The Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy

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The Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy

H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini and the Sicilian famous chef, Sr. Franco Giulio.

By John Dunkelgrün.

As most of you know, the Crowne Plaza Promenade hotel regularly highlights the cuisines of different countries by flying in their best chefs and having its kitchen serve the national specialties for a whole week.

This initiative of the Promenade’s General manager, Mr. Patrick Aarsman and Diplomat Magazine’s Publisher, Dr. Mayelinne De Lara, has become very popular.

Italian Flavours & Italian Gastronomic Week 2019 at Crowne plaza.

On Thursday 21 November there was a remarkable evening in this episode in the culinary series. To mark  the Fourth Annual Week of Italian Gastronomy, an event that takes place simultaneously in over 100 countries, the the Italian Embassy had flown in not just a famous chef, Sr. Franco Giulio, but also four specialists from his ‘Equipe’.

The Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini hosted a bevy of colleagues to let them sample Italian food way beyond what the most Italian restaurants can offer.

H.E. Mr. Elyes Ghariani, Ambassador of Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Fernando Arias, Director General of OPC and H.E. Mr. Alexander Shulgin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation.

Mr. Perugini opened the event by explaining that the theme of this Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy was ‘Food Education and Culture’. Food today needs to be thought of in terms of a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

He stressed that in this endeavour, Italy is worldwide in the forefront. Italy’s agriculture produces one of the lowest  chemical residues in the world, about one third of the EU average and only about one tenth of the residues produced in developing nations.

Daklen Difato, an Italian prodigy pianist.

His speech was followed with a recital by the 19 year old piano prodigy, Sr. Daklen Difato.

Your correspondent is not a professional music critic by a long shot, but it appeared to him that Sr. Difato’s undoubted fireworks were more suitable to the power of the Schumann and Prokofief sonatas than to the tender works by Chopin with which he chose to start his recital.

A classical piano concert by Daklen Difato opened the Italian Flavours Gastronomic dinner at Crowne Plaza.

And then came the food, which was as surprising as it was delicious. First of all, there was no pasta (unless you count the playful spikes of toasted capellini or barbini on balls of mashed potato).

Italian Flavours by Chef Franco Giulio.

Secondly the individual creations were served four at a time, prettily arranged on a square plate surrounded by Japanese like round bowls of risotto and couscous. Chef Giulio made magic with his shrimps and swordfish and the pastry chef outdid himself, putting the goal of a healthier lifestyle into question.

Chef Chef Sido de Brabander and the Italian team of chefs from Sicily.

If this dinner could be criticised at all, it would be that it was more of a served buffet of individual specialties than a well balanced meal.

But with such a recommendable spread in the context of a ‘tasting’ that is a small thing. It was an extraordinary experience.

Italian Flavours 2019 Crowne Plaza.

Air Arabia to expand further

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Air Arabia to expand further

Air Arabia – Picture by Pedro Aragão.

Air Arabia, ranked as the most well-connected discount carrier in the Gulf and North Africa region, has placed an order for 120 Airbus A320s for a sum of 14 billion dollars. 

The agreement includes 73 of the flagship A320neo, with a mix of the larger A321neo and long-distance A321XLR variants making up the remainder. Air Arabia is already an Airbus operator.

As per statement CEO Adel Ali said the “planes will allow the discount airline to expand in southeast Asia and Africa as it formalises a joint-venture plan with Etihad Airways“. 

Currently Air Arabia operates a multi-hub business with bases in the Kingdom of Morocco (Casablanca) and Egypt (Alexandria), as well as the emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. It possesses a fleet of about 50 A320 aircraft together with a handful of leased A321neos.

For further information:
https://www.airarabia.com/en

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Image by Pedro Aragão
(https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/7617617,  https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/3/36096_1369649635.jpg) through 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license

Finnish Ambassador in maiden call to Saxony-Anhalt

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Finnish Ambassador in maiden call to Saxony-Anhalt

Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff and Ambassador Anne Sipiläinen – Picture by B. Rulf, Sachsen-Anhalt Staatskanzl.

Wednesday, 30 October 2019, Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany: State Premier Dr. Reiner Haseloff welcomed Finland’s Ambassador to Germany, Anne Sipiläinen, upon her inaugural visit to the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Both partners exchanged views on the status and perspectives of bilateral cooperation between the two parties, and on current European policy issues. Currently Finland holds the Presidency of the European Council in the second half of 2019.

On the previous day, Ambassador Sipiläinen partookin a discussion event organised by the European Movement Saxony-Anhalt that is being supported by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Magdeburg, the Chamber of Crafts Magdeburg and the German-Finnish Society on the priorities of Finland’s Presidency of the Council.

Bilateral relations between Finland and Saxony-Anhalt 
Foreign trade between Finland and Saxony-Anhalt reached a record level in 2018. Exports to Finland amounted to 155.5 million euros and goods worth 284.2 million euros were imported from Finland.

There are currently four companies in Saxony-Anhalt with a majority participation of Finnish investors.

All universities in the state maintain academic contacts with universities in Finland that ought to be developed. 

A town twinning between Halle (Saale) and Oulu/Uleåborg has existed since 1972.

For further information:
Finnish EU Council Presidency: https://eu2019.fi/en/frontpage

Embassy of Finland to Germany: https://finlandabroad.fi/web/deu/etusivu

Government of Germany: https://europa.sachsen-anhalt.de/internationales/aktuelles-internationales-2019/antrittsbesuch-der-finnischen-botschafterin/
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Week of Italian Gastronomy opening

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Week of Italian Gastronomy opening

The Italian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, with Italian clarinetist Ms. Letizia Elsa Maula, Mrs. Mariska Perugini-Viser and Mr. Mario Rio, cellist.

By Tereza Neuwirthova.

An exquisite evening filled with quality music and delightful food, on Monday 18th November the Italian Residence in The Hague hosted the first of its events organised as a part of the “Fourth Week of Italian Gastronomy”, which is held from 18-24 November 2019.

The event saw the attendance of a number of Ambassadors, notably of China, Israel, Georgia, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Egypt, Belgium, as well as representatives from international organizations such Mr Andrea Angeli, from OSCE, or Mr. Consalvo Giandomenico from the Italian company Eccellenze Campane. In addition, receiving the invitation of H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy, a special delegation from Italy’s region of Campania- the mayor of Controne, Mr. Ettore Poti was the guest of honour at the residence. Also as part of the delegation  Francesco Verlotta, Counsellor for agriculture and environment of the Municipality of Controne.

Ambassador Perugini with the mayor of the Italian city of Controne, Mr. Ettore Poti.

To begin the evening, H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini welcomed the guests and explained:

“Today’s concert is one of the main events of the Italian Gastronomy Week, which is an initiative of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held for historically the fourth time this year. In the framework of this tradition, more than one thousand events are held in countries around the world, at which the well-known delicacies of the Italian cuisine are served.” 

Ambassadors attending the opening concert of the 4th Italian Week in The Netherlands.

Mr. Perugini continued his speech by reflecting:

“What is remarkable is not only that the Italian gastronomy sector is one of the leading in the European Union in terms of reducing greenhouse gases emission, but also that Italy is the country with the highest number biological products in the world. The Italian cuisine represents a way of life, and is an essential element of Italy’s culture, and therefore we are here to celebrate this immensely important element of our lives.” 

The wife the Mayor of Controne, Ambassador Perugini, the Mayor of Controne and Mr Andrea Angeli, Press Adviser OSCE.

During his speech, Mr. Perugini also voiced his empathy for the city of Venice, and informed the guests about the opportunity to contribute to the Venice Water Emergency Fund , an initiative in which the Italian Embassy in The Hague, as many other embassies across the world, participates.

A voluntary contribution to Venice Water Emergency Fund can be transferred to the following bank account:

Name: Comune di Venezia-emergenza acqua alta

Motivation: Venice water emergency contribution

IBAN: IT24T0306902117100000018767

NIC: BCITITMM

Thereafter, the Ambassador introduced the artists performing at the soirée- Ms. Letitia Elsa Maulá, who played clarinet, together with Mr. Mario Rio playing cello. The programme of the concert started with Beethoven’s early pieces, which were influenced by Mozart and Haydn, originally composed for a violin-cello formation. 

Letizia Elsa Maula and Mario Rio: together the Philia Duo.

A sonata by Mozart followed, which was also especially arranged for the duet, and thus created a unique melodiousness. Lastly, the performers played modern French music from the 20th century composed by Francis Poulenc and Guillame Connesson, whereby a piece by the latter was an extraordinary “Disco Toccata”, a connection of classical and modern music that represents the artist’s manifesto.

The concert finished with a great applause from the guests, and the musicians were given flower bouquets. 

It was then time to indulge in the delicacies served as a special degustation menu prepared by the Italian Residence chef, which collaborated with the organization Eccellenze Campane in preparing the dishes for the whole week of Italian Gastronomy. The guests were offered a great variety of Italian delights, among which the most traditional such as lasagna or tiramisú could not have missed. 

Photography by Catherine Dailey.

Italian music and flavours at Europol

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Italian music and flavours at Europol

Italian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Italian pianist, Daklen Difato and Europol Executive Director, Ms. Catherine de Bolle.


“Italy is among the highest exporter of food products, naturally, the question of food safety becomes relevant. Europol, not only fights crime in Europe but also contributes to the safety of food-related products in Europe. The Italian Republic has been cooperating with Europol for a very long period and will continue to commit itself to the security of Europe. Tonight, with Italian food and music, we bring flavor to Europol!” H.E. Mr. Andrea Perugini, Ambassador of Italy to the Netherlands.

By Wei Hung.

Italy blends history, culture, and music like no one else, a perfect balance in each of its dimensions. The Italian Embassy, in Europol, fashionably presented all three elements giving everyone not only a feast of flavors but a feast for our ears as well.

Ambassador Perugini during his welcome remarks.

Among our audience, diplomats representing various Embassies and Mrs. Catherine De Bolle, the Executive Director of Europol were present. During Daklen Difato‘s performance, he serenaded the audience from contemporary Italian music into Schumann’s romantic era.

The young Italian prodigy played a handful of masterpieces such as Chopin’s Fantasia op.49 and Prokofiev’s Sonata n.7 op.83. He was, without a doubt, the spotlight of the night.

Ms. Catherine De Bolle, Europol Executive Director.

He started playing the piano by the age of seven and attended the Conservatory of Music “E.R. Duni” in Matera by the time he was eight. Moreover, he graduated from the musical conservatory at the age of 13 (with 22 being the norm)! His remarkable achievements could be seen all around the globe, from Tel Aviv, Nice, The Hague, to Washington DC.

Difato’s music performance not only reverberated through these cities but also in our ears tonight, a truly mesmerizing experience. In an exclusive interview with Difato himself, he told us he never actually pictured himself going professional, not to mention, perform at all these big cities.

However, he embarked on this musical journey when his teacher realized his potential and talent as a pianist.

Daklen Difato, Italian pianist prodigy.

But, the piano is not his only passion, he is currently also a student of aerospace engineering, who enjoys mathematics as much as the piano, and hopes to pursue both his musical career and aerospace engineering side by side.

Italian Gastronomy & Concert at ESTEC

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Italian Gastronomy & Concert at ESTEC

In the picture Letizia Elsa Maula (clarinet) and Mario Rio (cello).

By Nynke van der Heide.

In honour of the 4th edition of the Week of Italian Gastronomy, the Italian Embassy organized a concert in the evening of the 18th of November.

This special event took place at the biggest European Space Agency site of Europe: the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk.

The Week of Italian Gastronomy, took place from the 18th until the 24th of November 2019 with culinary and cultural events hosted throughout the Netherlands. “Food Education: the Culture of Taste” was this year theme, emphasizing the importance of the quality of produce and a balanced lifestyle. 

The Italian Gastronomic Week in The Hague at European Space Research and Technology Centre.

The evening began with a few opening remarks by Dr. Franco Ongaro, the Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality and Head of ESTEC in which he welcomed the many esteemed guests. Ms. Verónica Ferrucci, First Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy representing H.E. Ambassador Mr. Andrea Perugini, followed by stressing the strong connection between food and culture, and the important role music has in this process.

She introduced the duo Letizia Elsa Maula and Mario Rio: together the Philia Duo. An allusion to the Greek word “Philia” meaning “brotherly love” or the Aristotelian translation of “friendship”. The intriguing combination of clarinet and cello created an extraordinary element in the evening. 

  • Ms. PIna Alivernini, Commercial Attache, Embassy of Italy.

The concert was divided in four different parts taking the audience on a journey through time beginning at Mozart and ending at Connesson in 1994. The first piece, duet for violin and cello Wo027 by Beethoven, was especially transcribed for clarinet.

Ms. Verónica Ferrucci, First Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission at the Italian Embassy, representing H.E. Ambassador Mr. Andrea Perugini. and Italian musician Letizia Elsa Maula.

It was strongly influenced by the Sturm und Drang movement which became visible in the interaction between the cello and clarinet. It looked like a fierce but merry dialogue.


The third piece, sonate for clarinet and cello by Poulenc, brought us back in more modern times. The piece was a perfect example of the melodic gift that Poulenc was known to have. The last piece of the concert, Disco Toccata, was created by the French composer Connesson and was the only song originally made for clarinet and cello duo. The modern tunes made for a complete concert experience.

After a big applause, the guests were invited to the reception where they could enjoy authentic Italian Panzerotti and Tareni wines from the Sicilian region. The guests can look back at a very successful evening with enchanting music created by two very talented artists, delicious Italian cuisine and many colleagues to share the evening with. 

Italian gastronomy and wines.

Photography by Catherine Dailey and Nynke van der Heide.

H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral is Ecuador’s Ambassador in The Hague

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H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral is Ecuador’s Ambassador in The Hague

In November 2019, H.E. Ambassador Andrés Terán Parral has presented his credential to H.M. the King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, officially becoming Ecuador’s top representative in The Hague. This new post comes on the heels of a successful diplomatic career of over 35 years.

In late 2019, the diplomatic community of the Netherlands has welcomed a new member: H.E. Mr. Andrés Terán Parral, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Ecuador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The new Ecuadorian Ambassador, a law graduate from the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, is an extremely experienced diplomat, with a career of over 35 years in a number of different posts.

Mr. Terán Parral started to work for Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1981, thus beginning a career that led him to take increasingly high-level positions, alternating between Ecuador’s capital city and other countries throughout the world. 

During his first stints in Quito, Ambassador Terán Parral covered a vast array of different roles. Starting in in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked as Third Secretary at the Department of Cultural Promotion (1983), Desk Officer for the US and Canada (1989-1991), Undersecretary of Bilateral Affairs (1990-91), as well as in the Office of the Vice Minister (1991-1992). In between these roles, he held positions at Ecuador’s embassies in Paraguay (1984-1989) and Spain (1992-1997).

In the late 1990s, Mr. Terán Parral also served as Head of the Office of Diplomatic Coordination for Ecuador’s Vice Presidency (1998) and Head of Protocol for the Presidency (2000), before moving again abroad, serving at Ecuador’s embassies in Belgium (2001-2004) and the United States (2004-2006).

In the mid-2000s, Ambassador Terán Parral took up a number of new positions, serving as Legal Advisor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2006), Under Secretary General of the Ecuadorian Central Bank’s Board of Directors (2007), and Chief of Staff of the Foreign Minister (2008), before moving to his country’s embassy in Uruguay (2009).

In November 2009, Mr. Terán Parral was then chosen by his government to attempt a rapprochement with the government of Colombia amidst a diplomatic crisis – an attempt that succeeded, as the two countries restored diplomatic ties the following year.

In March 2011, Mr. Terán Parral was finally promoted to highest diplomatic rank and named Ambassador to Canada, the country where he stayed until 2015, when he returned to Quito to serve as Director of International Affairs at the Office of the Prosecutor General. In 2016, he returned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Director for South America, before being appointed Vice Minister in June 2018. Finally, in September 2019, the Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno asked Ambassador Terán Parral to represent his country in the Netherlands, where he is currently serving as Ambassador.

Ambassador Terán Parral was born in Lima (Peru) in 1960, and grew up across four different Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, and Ecuador). He speaks fluently four languages – English, French, and Portuguese, in addition to his Spanish mother tongue. Throughout his life, the Ambassador has received high-level decorations in Ecuador, Chile, Spain, and Brazil. Ambassador Terán Parral is married to Mrs. María Rosa Egüez, a clinical psychologist, with whom he has three children.  

International migrant trafficking network dismantled

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International migrant trafficking network dismantled

the national authorities in Germany (Federal Police Department) and Romania (Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism and National Police) took part in a simultaneous action against an organised criminal group trafficking migrants from the Middle East.

The German Federal Police initially carried out the investigation with the Romanian national authorities and were later joined by UK and Hungarian investigators. National authorities from Germany, Romania, Hungary, the UK and Turkey further looked into the activities of 36 people accused of trafficking at least 580 migrants, earning more than EUR 2 million for their services.

Photo © Shutterstock

The traffickers and their victims travelled from Iran, Iraq and Syria, via Turkey and Greece, to Romania, where they were loaded into containers and transported on trucks via Hungary and the Czech Republic into Germany. This form of transport is potentially fatal for the migrants.

A joint investigation team (JIT), with financial and logistical support provided by Eurojust, was formed in November 2018 among Germany, Romania, the UK and Hungary, with the participation of Eurojust and Europol. The JIT was instrumental in the success of the investigation and the action day. Two coordination meetings were held at Eurojust to prepare for the action day. Europol supported the actions by analysing data.

During the action day, 78 police officers from Germany and 65 police officers from Romania searched 13 houses in Germany and Romania. Four people were detained in Romania and one person was detained in Greece. The police seized 14 cell phones, 2 computers, bank account documentation and various pieces of identification.

In related actions, four drivers were sentenced in Germany to terms ranging from one year and eight months to five years and three months. Another driver is standing trial in Hungary. The main organiser was arrested on a German European Arrest Warrant in London earlier this year by German and UK police. His extradition is pending. At the same time, the Turkish Police arrested 14 suspects.

National authorities:

Germany: Office of the Public Prosecutor Weiden in der Oberpfalz

Romania: Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism – Central Structure; Romanian National Police

UK: Crown Prosecution Service; Home Office Immigration Enforcement

Hungary: District Office of Public Prosecution Mosonmagyaròvàr

ICC judges authorise opening of an investigation into the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar

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ICC judges authorise opening of an investigation into the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar

ICC judges authorise opening of an investigation into the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar

On 14 November 2019, Pre-Trial Chamber III of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or the “Court”) authorised the Prosecutor to proceed with an investigation for the alleged crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction in the Situation in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh/Republic of the Union of Myanmar (“the situation in Bangladesh/Myanmar”). ICC Pre-Trial Chamber III is composed of Judge Olga Herrera Carbuccia, Presiding, Judge Robert Fremr, and Judge Geoffrey Henderson.

This authorisation follows the request submitted on 4 July 2019 by the Prosecutor to open an investigation into alleged crimes within the ICC’s jurisdiction committed against the Rohingya people from Myanmar. 

The Chamber also received the views on this request by or on behalf of hundreds of thousands of alleged victims. According to the ICC Registry, victims unanimously insist that they want an investigation by the Court and many of the consulted alleged victims ‘believe that only justice and accountability can ensure that the perceived circle of violence and abuse comes to an end’. The Chamber recognised all the individuals and organisations that assisted, guided and advised alleged victims throughout this process.

The Chamber concluded that the Court may exercise jurisdiction over crimes when part of the criminal conduct takes place on the territory of a State Party. While Myanmar is not a State Party, Bangladesh ratified the ICC Rome statute in 2010. Upon review of the available information, the Chamber accepted that there exists a reasonable basis to believe widespread and/or systematic acts of violence may have been committed that could qualify as the crimes against humanity of deportation across the Myanmar-Bangladesh border and persecution on grounds of ethnicity and/or religion against the Rohingya population. The Chamber found no need to assess whether other crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction may have been committed, even though such alleged crimes could be part of the Prosecutor’s future investigation. 

Noting the scale of the alleged crimes and the number of victims allegedly involved, the Chamber considered that the situation clearly reaches the gravity threshold. According to the supporting material, an estimated 600,000 to one million Rohingya were forcibly displaced from Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh as a result of the alleged coercive acts.  Noting the victims’ views, the Chamber agreed with the Prosecutor that there are no substantial reasons to believe that an investigation into the situation would not be in the interests of justice.

Consequently, Pre-Chamber III authorised the commencement of the investigation in relation to any crime, including any future crime, as long as: a) it is within the jurisdiction of the Court, b) it is allegedly committed at least in part on the territory of Bangladesh, or on the territory of any other State Party or State accepting the ICC jurisdiction, c)  it is sufficiently linked to the situation as described in the present decision, and d) it was allegedly committed on or after  the date of entry into force of the Rome Statute for Bangladesh or other relevant State Party.

Decision Pursuant to Article 15 of the Rome Statute on the Authorisation of an Investigation into the Situation in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh/Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Italian archaeological trafficking group dismantled

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Italian archaeological trafficking group dismantled

Photo © Carabinieri, IT

An international police operation carried out today, supported by Eurojust and Europol, dismantled an international organised crime group involved in large-scale trafficking of Greek archaeological items looted from Calabria, Italy, resulting in 23 arrests and 103 searches and seizures, yielding approximately 10 000 archaeological goods.

The investigation, which began in 2017, revealed that illegal excavations were managed by a well-structured organised crime group (OCG) carrying out all phases of the trafficking. The OCG, led by two Calabrians living in the province of Crotone, included looters, fences, intermediaries and mules operating out of different Italian regions. The key facilitators from Italy, France, the UK, Germany and Serbia were operating from Djion, Munich, London and Vršac, coordinating the supply chain. This looting, carried out over the course of several years, caused considerable damage to the Italian cultural heritage.

Eurojust supported the execution of the European Investigation Orders and arranged a coordination centre to follow the action in real time via dedicated and secure lines of communication. The coordination centre enabled the execution of measures, including arrests, searches and seizures, immediately and simultaneously in the five countries, and the timely exchange of information and coordination of all actors involved, including investigative judges, prosecutors and law enforcement authorities.

Europol supported the investigation by coordinating the information exchange, holding several operational meetings, preparing the action day and providing on-the-spot analytical support in Italy to cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases.

National authorities:

IT: Carabinieri

DE: Bavarian State Police (Bayerisches Landeskriminalamt (LKA))

FR: Office central de lutte contre le trafic de biens culturels (OCBC)

UK: Metropolitan Police, London

Serbia: Serbian Criminal Investigations Directorate

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