Financial Crime World

EU and Council of Europe Launch Joint Program to Combat Financial Crime in Albania

The European Union (EU) and the Council of Europe have launched a joint program, “Action against Economic Crime in Albania” (AEC-AL), aimed at strengthening Albania’s legal and operational framework in combating financial crime. The program will run from January 2023 to December 2026.

Key Objectives

The AEC-AL program has several key objectives:

  • Assist public institutions in preventing and combating economic crime
  • Support authorities in implementing recent recommendations of the Council of Europe’s monitoring bodies
  • Engage civil society organizations and the private sector in efforts to fight economic crime and money laundering

Key Priorities

The program has identified several key priorities, including:

  • Harmonizing the legal and operational framework with GRECO recommendations
  • Improving the effectiveness of law enforcement and criminal justice sector in combating economic crime
  • Strengthening political finance oversight
  • Enhancing legislation and institutional capacities to trace and confiscate criminal assets

Capacity Building and Institutional Support

The program will focus on building capacity and institutional support for:

  • Anti-money laundering risk-based compliance and supervision, particularly in the non-financial sector
  • Strengthening legislation and regulatory frameworks
  • Institutional capacity building
  • Enhanced inter-agency and international cooperation

Budget and Funding

The total budget for the AEC-AL program is €895,000, with 85% funded by the European Union and 15% by the Council of Europe.

Expected Outcomes

The program aims to achieve improved legal and operational framework to effectively target corruption, as well as enhanced capacities for prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, and improved effectiveness of law enforcement and criminal justice sector in the fight against economic crime.

Get More Information

For more information on the AEC-AL program, please visit:

  • Economic Crime and Co-operation Division website
  • Action against Economic Crime specific website
  • Horizontal Facility website