Financial Crime World

Albania: EU and Council of Europe Launch Joint Programme to Combat Economic Crime

The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe have launched a new joint programme to combat economic crime in Albania. The “Action against Economic Crime in Albania” (AEC-AL) will run from January 2023 until December 2026 with a total budget of €895,000.

Main Goal

The main goal of the action is to assist public institutions in preventing and combating economic crime, including corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. The programme aims to support Albanian authorities in implementing recent key recommendations made by monitoring bodies such as MONEYVAL and GRECO.

Key Priorities

The action will focus on several key priorities:

  • Harmonizing Albania’s legal framework with international standards
  • Strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat economic crime
  • Enhancing oversight of political finance
  • Improving anti-money laundering measures

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries of the programme include various government ministries and agencies, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector. The action will engage local stakeholders in a series of advisory and capacity-building interventions aimed at strengthening legislation and regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities, and inter-agency cooperation.

Expected Results

The programme is expected to achieve significant results, including:

  • Improved legal and operational frameworks for combating corruption
  • Enhanced capacities for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing
  • Increased effectiveness of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the fight against economic crime

Funding

The European Union and the Council of Europe have pledged to provide 85% of the funding for the programme, with the remaining 15% coming from the Council of Europe. The “Action against Economic Crime in Albania” is part of a larger joint initiative known as the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, which aims to support reform efforts in the region and align them with European standards.

Further Information

For more information about the programme, please visit the Economic Crime and Co-operation Division website or contact Zahra Ahmadova, Programme Manager, at [insert contact information].