Albania Removed from FATF Grey List in October 2023
Albania has made significant progress in improving its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regime, leading to its removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey list.
Background
Albania was initially placed on the FATF grey list in February 2020 due to concerns over its effectiveness in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. The country had been working to strengthen its AML/CFT regime, implementing various reforms and measures to improve its compliance.
Key Reforms
- Amending the Anti-Mafia Law
- Establishing a new Financial Intelligence Unit
- Increasing cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement agencies
FATF Report
According to a recent FATF report, Albania had substantially completed its action plan and expressed appreciation for the efforts made by the country to address its strategic deficiencies. However, the FATF did not authorize an onsite visit to verify the implementation of Albania’s AML/CFT reforms due to concerns over plans to establish a Voluntary Tax Compliance (VTC) programme that did not comply with FATF principles.
Onsite Visit and Delisting
Following Albania’s withdrawal of the draft law, the FATF conducted an onsite visit in August 2023, and the country was subsequently delisted from the grey list in October 2023. The European Commission has warned that Albania should ensure any future VTC law complies with EU acquis and international standards.
Economic Prospects
Albania’s economic prospects are expected to remain robust, with the International Monetary Fund stating that Albania’s economy has emerged as one of the stronger performers in the region. However, systemic corruption remains an issue that needs to be addressed through ongoing efforts to reform the judicial system and improve the rule of law.
Risk Level
According to the Basel AML Index, Albania scored 4.75 out of 10 for its risk level, placing it in the medium-risk category. The country achieved a score of:
- 33% for effectiveness
- 67% for technical compliance
in the latest FATF assessments.