A transnational effort to combat organized crime is taking off with leadership from the European Union.

A 3-day meeting this week in San José marks the kick-off with representatives from 18 Latin American countries joining the new effort: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and Costa Rica.

Xavier Cousquer, one of the program directors, described the initiative as “demand-oriented, because it is up to each country to define what it wants to work with us.”

Deputy Minister of Costa Rica’s Public Security, Bernardita Marín Salazar, said that “the meeting aims to define the lines of cooperation that the European Union will be supporting in the fight against organized crime.”

Gustavo Mata, Security Minister has mentioned priority areas for Costa Rica include cyber crime and police corruption. And Cousquer said the EU, under the auspices of the program, would “send experts, organize study exchange visits, and take on concrete work in the fight against organized crime.”

The countries leading the initiative area Spain and France, with support from Portugal and Italy.

The program takes place within the framework of relations between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).