The second peer-to-peer mission related to verification of asset declarations which took place from 24-26 January 2024 has further strengthened capacities of officials of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption (APC) to effectively handle verification and auditing of asset declarations. 

The aim of the activity was to raise the capacities and knowledge of APC staff who are in charge of the management process of the assets declared by public officials.

Over the course of the activity, ten mentees engaged in an intensive three-day exchange with the Council of Europe expert, delving into various procedural and operational challenges associated with the verification and auditing of asset declarations.

Key topics of discussion included the identification of essential information sources crucial for the verification of asset declarations and the structured analysis of declaration content. 

Moreover, the Council of Europe expert introduced comprehensive checklists designed to provide the APC with a systematic approach to ensuring the accuracy and completeness of declared assets. This strategic initiative aims to provide the APC with a systematic way to verify the accuracy and completeness of the declared assets, in efforts to prevent corruption and conflicts of interest.

Participants also had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions with the Council of Europe expert regarding the improvement of the draft regulation governing the verification of asset declarations. The insights gained during these discussions are expected to contribute significantly to strengthening the regulatory framework. 

This initiative builds upon joint EU/Council of Europe and beneficiaries’ efforts in identifying challenges faced and improvement needs with regard to countering economic crime in Kosovo by also taking into account the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Assessment of 2018.

The activity was organised within the framework of the “Project against Economic Crime in Kosovo” (PECK III), jointly funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the latter.