The confiscation of assets acquired from criminal activities – organized crime and corruption in particular – has been a topical issue in recent years. Contemporary theory and practice establish that the confiscation of proceeds of crimes is indispensible if the fight against serious criminality is to be effective. They also establish that the objective behind asset confiscation extends beyond depriving criminal enterprises of their ill-gotten gains. Being increasingly aware of the full array of considerations behind asset confiscation, EU MSs have turned their attention to the compensation of victims –individual victims and deprived communities alike – and to the maintenance of public confidence in the justice system.

This report analyses laws and practices for the management and disposal of confiscated assets in the European Union. The analysis explores the challenges and best practices of the Member States in this hitherto neglected area and strives to contribute to improvement of the overall effectiveness of the existing confiscation systems. This mapping has been carried out by the Center for the Study of Democracy in collaboration with University of Palermo – Department of European Studies and International Integration (UNIPA).