Interior Minister Ervin Demo said police success depends on how safe citizens feel, how well authorities protect young people and how effectively they restrict criminal groups’ activities.

Speaking at a joint conference of the State Police and Italy’s Guardia di Finanza on 2026 aerial monitoring results, Demo praised 15 years of cooperation between the two institutions. He said effective action must target criminal finances, not only arrests and operations.

Demo highlighted joint investigations, cooperation with Italian anti-mafia units and the seizure of criminal assets as key tools against organised crime. He also cited the European Commission’s latest progress report, which recorded an increase in joint police operations with international partners from 53 to 108 in one year.

This year, aerial monitoring ran from May to October. Eighteen joint teams with Italy also demonstrated strong operational coordination, he said.

Demo stressed that security underpins sustainable development and European integration. He thanked Italian authorities for their continued support and called for stronger international cooperation as criminal groups change their financing methods, trafficking routes and use of technology.

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