Dr. Ilazi addresses the importance vulnerabilities to foreign influence at the 21st International Anti-corruption Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania

Head of research of KCSS, Dr. Ilazi addresses the importance vulnerabilities to foreign influence at the 21st International Anti-corruption Conference in Vilnius, Lithuania.

June 20, 2024, Vilnius, Lithuania: The Head of Research at the Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS), Dr. Ilazi, participated in the 21st International Anti-corruption Conference organized by Transparency International.

Dr. Ilazi was a speaker in the workshop titled "Confronting Strategic Corruption and Illicit Finance: Democratic Resilience and Economic Security." This session, inspired by the Summit for Democracy’s Cohort on Anti-Corruption Policies and National Security, focused on combating strategic corruption and state capture. Experts in the workshop shared their insights on various topics, including investment screening, tracking illicit wealth and assets of sanctioned individuals, leveraging big data for risk assessments, and implementing corruption-proof legislation.

In his address, Dr. Ilazi discussed the vulnerabilities in the Western Balkans and Kosovo to malign foreign influence. He pointed out how ethno-political radicalization and bilateral disputes in the region exacerbate these vulnerabilities. Dr. Ilazi emphasized the necessity for enhanced security cooperation in the Western Balkans, particularly in the area of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) screening. He also advocated for a strategic discussion on these issues to be approached holistically, rather than treating them as isolated challenges confined to a single region in Europe.