Last week, the ENCORE project officially launched its activities with a series of high-level meetings held at the Siracusa International Institute for Criminal Justice and Human Rights in Siracusa, Italy.
From Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 January 2026, ENCORE convened the first meetings of its two advisory bodies:
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the High-Level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Tuesday and Wednesday, and
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the Law Enforcement Agencies Advisory Group (LEAAG) on Wednesday and Thursday.
The meetings were facilitated by the ENCORE project partners, the Siracusa International Institute, Ambiendura, the Envicrime Academy, and the World Resources Institute, and marked a key milestone in the project’s efforts to combat corruption that enables pollution crimes, including waste trafficking and fluorinated gas (F-gas) crimes.
Strategic Dialogue and Expert Guidance
The HLAB meeting (27–28 January) brought together a diverse group of experts from civil society, government, international organisations, and criminal justice networks. The project team presented the current state of ENCORE’s work and outlined upcoming activities, inviting strategic and thematic feedback to guide the project’s direction.
Drawing on their extensive experience, HLAB members helped identify priority areas for ENCORE, contributing valuable insights to strengthen the project’s approach to tackling corruption linked to environmental crime.
HLAB participants included:
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Mr Francisco José Acosta Díaz, O2-24 AP EnviCrime Specialist, Europol
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Mr Darko Blinkov, General Environmental Inspector (North Macedonia)
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Mr Rob de Rijck, Chair, Working Group 2 Waste, European Network of Prosecutors for the Environment
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Mr Martijn Hildebrand, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (The Netherlands)
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Mr Julian Newman, Campaigns Director, Environmental Investigation Agency (UK)
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Ms Tatiana Terekhova, Senior Programme Management Officer, OzonAction, United Nations Environment Programme
Operational Perspectives from Law Enforcement
The LEAAG meeting (28–29 January) brought together law enforcement professionals from across Europe and beyond. Discussions focused on ensuring that ENCORE’s activities respond directly to operational realities and enforcement challenges.
Participants provided practical guidance on how to design project outputs, including training programmes, policy recommendations, and analytical tools, so they deliver maximum impact for investigators and practitioners on the ground.
LEAAG participants included:
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Mr Francisco José Acosta Díaz, O2-24 AP EnviCrime Specialist, Europol
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Lt. Col. Mgr. Ondrej Koporec, Chair, EnviCrimeNet
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Col. Sébastien Nochez, Head of the Strategy and Operations Division, CESAN, Gendarmerie (France)
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Lt. Ana Prieto Rego, International Department – SEPRONA, Guardia Civil (Spain)
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Ms Laura Tvardovska, Analyst, First Financial Intelligence Division, FIU (Latvia)
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Mr Michele Viale, Operations Coordinator for Pollution and Illegal Mining, Environmental Security Sub-Directorate, Interpol
Insights from both advisory bodies will play a crucial role in shaping the next phases of the ENCORE project. By combining the strategic vision of the HLAB with the operational expertise of the LEAAG, ENCORE aims to deliver targeted and effective solutions to address the complex links between corruption and pollution crime.
“These inaugural meetings have set a strong foundation for ENCORE’s work in 2026 and beyond,” said a project spokesperson. “The engagement and commitment of our advisory board members and law enforcement partners are essential to creating meaningful change in the fight against corruption and environmental crime.”
