Senior representatives of beneficiaries and partner institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe joint Action against Economic Crime in Albania gathered in the first Steering Committee of the new phase of the Action (2023-2026).

Among the Action’s key priorities for the new phase concern the harmonisation of the legal and operational framework in the fight against corruption and review of certain legal acts and provision of proposals for enhancing their compliance with relevant Financial Action Task Force recommendations; improved effectiveness of law enforcement and criminal justice sector in the fight against economic crime; strengthened effectiveness of political finance’s oversight; enhanced legislation and institutional capacities of relevant authorities to tracing and confiscating criminal assets; capacity and institutional building for Anti-Money laundering risk-based compliance and supervision concerning particularly the non-financial sector and integrity of public officials.

While acknowledging the successful partnership and concrete outcomes of the last two phases, partner institutions re-confirmed the continuous efforts and cooperation with the Action in meeting the outstanding GRECO and MONEYVAL recommendations. Emphasis was placed on a tailored, flexible and result-based approach to respond to the dynamic pace of reforms and evolving needs

The activity was organized by the Action against Economic Crime in Albania, within the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe joint programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye (Horizontal Facility III), co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.