OSCE and law enforcement representatives from South-Eastern Europe explore the responsible use of new technologies in policing

On 30 September and 1 October 2026, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department, together with the OSCE Mission to Serbia, organized a regional event in Belgrade, Serbia, on emerging technologies in law enforcement. The event brought together 21 law enforcement officials from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, as well as representatives of the OSCE field operations in South-Eastern Europe and international experts on the use of technology in policing.

The event built on four expert round tables held by the OSCE in 2024 and 2025. Participants discussed how technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics and digital platforms, can make law enforcement both more effective and more accountable. Sessions covered crime analysis, criminal investigations, community engagement and organizational processes, and included case studies from Austria, Montenegro, Serbia and the United Kingdom. The discussions also addressed the regional context. 

On the second day, participants worked in facilitated groups to identify shared challenges and opportunities related to differing levels of digital maturity, the need for cross-border co-operation to combat transnational organized crime, and shortages of resources and skills. They then turned these insights into concrete priorities for future OSCE support.

“Transnational organized crime groups increasingly exploit digital tools across borders, challenging traditional law enforcement methods. However, technology is not just a threat vector, it is also our most powerful instrument for modernization. When harnessed correctly, digital tools can dramatically enhance police effectiveness, streamline crime analysis, improve investigations and strengthen community trust,” said Ambassador Marcel Peško, Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

“South-Eastern Europe is not a single digital landscape. Countries and agencies within countries have different systems, resources, legal frameworks and levels of experience. However, many of the challenges they encounter are shared, and so are the opportunities to overcome them. This event was a starting point for enhanced regional co-operation in the complex task of adopting new and emerging technologies by law enforcement authorities,” said Umberto Severini, Head of the Strategic Police Matters Unit of the OSCE Secretariat’s Transnational Threats Department.

The event's conclusions will guide future OSCE capacity-building and technical assistance in the region, delivered by the Transnational Threats Department and field operations in South-Eastern Europe. 

The findings and recommendations of the roundtable series are summarized in the OSCE policy brief "Making Law Enforcement Fit for the Future: Strategic Priorities for Policing in the Digital Age".