This year’s seminar was hosted by the Institute for Comparative Criminal Law (Prof. Dr. Bettina Weisser) at the University of Cologne. From 2 to 6 February 2026, the seminar, led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Schloenhardt, Prof. Susanne Reindl-Krauskopf, Dr. Monika Stempkowski (University of Vienna), Prof. Serena Forlati (University of Ferrara), Prof. Dr. Gian Ege (University of Zurich) and Prof. Dr. Bettina Weisser addressed the topic Organised Criminal Groups: Members, Models, and Myths. The presentations held by the 18 participants offered a comprehensive and, in part, interdisciplinary approach to the phenomenon of organised criminal groups. Alongside the remarkable presentations, the ensuing fruitful discussions were a central feature of the sessions.
Cologne participant Julian Schophaus contributed a presentation on “States as organised criminal groups?”, and Salka Suhr from the ICCL discussed “Undercover agents and informants as anonymous witnesses in proceedings involving organised criminal groups under German law”.
The first day of the seminar was held at Schloss Wahn and opened by a welcome of the Dean of the Law Faculty, Prof. Dr. Christian Rolfs. A guest lecture was delivered by Dr. Anna Costantini, Dipartimento di Giurisprudenza, Universitá degli Studi di Torin on “Mafia-type organisations, individuals, and assets: repressive and preventive perspectives in Italian criminal law.”