UNODC meets the Albanian authorities to discuss cooperation infighting financial crime and corruption

As part of the regional initiative “From Illicit Financial Flows to Asset Recovery” currently implemented in South Eastern Europe, UNODC conducted a series of meetings with the national authorities of Albania to discuss future cooperation in the area of asset recovery. The meetings were held with representatives from the High Court, Ministry of Justice, the Economic and Financial Crime Branch of the General Directorate of State Police, High Inspectorate for Asset Declarations (HIDAACI), Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), Financial Intelligence Unit, the Agency for Public Procurement and the Agency for Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK).

During the meetings, UNODC provided an overview of the objectives and outcomes of the regional initiative related to asset recovery processes and shared plans in mapping out the priorities for each of the jurisdiction, ensuring coordination and synergy of efforts between technical assistance providers in Albania.

This regional initiative supports the Western Balkan jurisdictions, including Albania, in enhancing their capacities to seize proceeds and instrumentalities of crime, with a view to ensure future confiscation, enhance asset recovery capabilities, and pursue proceeds and instrumentalities of crime through national coordination and regional and interregional cooperation while enabling the collection of appropriate statistics on the different steps within the asset recovery process.

In addition, UNODC used this opportunity to discuss  the recently adopted Anti-Corruption and Illicit Finance Roadmap and the UNODC support to the Western Balkans jurisdictions, including Albania, in the implementation of the three  goals agreed under the Roadmap:

- preventing and countering corruption in public procurement;

- further strengthening conflict of interest and asset declaration systems;

- creating a regional network of specialized prosecutors, law enforcement and financial intelligence units.

The Albanian counterparts provided insights on the national priorities and plans, including the establishment of an Asset Recovery Office and highlighted the challenges and opportunities for the successful implementation of the asset recovery and anti-corruption efforts in the country. Other discussed topics included the applicable legal framework in the country as well as the identification of operational and capacity building needs for the relevant practitioners.

The asset recovery activities within the project “From Illicit Financial Flows to Asset Recovery” in South Eastern Europe are conducted in the framework of the UNODC Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe and funded by the Government of the United Kingdom.