Involving cross-border organized crime networks from ex-Soviet sources in support of terrorism and their influence on regional economic development

This paper indicates how the actions of organized crime networks (especially the former the former Soviet Union) can affect, from an economic point of view, the elaboration of policies to combat transnational terrorism. Transnational organized crime poses a significant and growing threat to national and international security, with dire implications for public safety, public health, democratic institutions, and economic stability across the globe. Not only are criminal networks expanding, but they also are diversifying their activities, resulting in the convergence of threats that were once distinct and today have explosive and destabilizing effects. Ex-soviet organized crime networks represent a significant threat to economic growth and democratic institutions. Nuclear material trafficking is an especially prominent concern in the former Soviet Union. Because some terrorist-extremist organizations are criminal groups that have a specific organization, logistics, specific training and education systems that cannot work without having material and financial resources. As a result, one of the most effective ways to fight the threat of terrorist organizations is to combat terrorism financing. Within the European Union, the primary responsibility for combating terrorist financing lies with the Member States. However, the EU can and should play a supporting role in helping to respond to the transnational nature of the threat.