The fight against corruption constitutes a national priority in strengthening the democracy and rule of law in Albania, as well as its integration in the European Union. This effort requires a comprehensive legal framework; well-equipped public authorities; and effective inter-institutional cooperation amongst institutions.

In supporting these efforts, on 5 and 6 July 2022, 42 officials of the Albanian General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and the Network of Anti-Corruption Coordinators of the Ministry of Justice, were trained on internal audit and administrative investigation of corruption in the framework of the joint EU and Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime in Albania.

Two Council of Europe experts, both of whom with extensive expertise and practical experience on anti-corruption, presented and discussed with participants best practices and approaches on conducting internal audit and administrative investigations to effectively prevent and punish corruption. During the discussions special attention was paid on the use of red flags and in identifying risk factors, as practical mechanisms to detect corruption and abusive practices, particularly in public procurement and execution of public contracts. Training experts highlighted the crucial role of anti-corruption coordinators and their competences in conducting institutional corruption risk assessments, which can be instrumental in prioritizing corruption prevention activities, but also the effective administrative investigations of abusive practices, that could lead to corruption.

During the two days, participants discussed how best to share information, access online databases, and make use of IT tools and other mechanisms for effective inter-agency cooperation in conducting efficient administrative investigations of corruption. Designed as a practical training, concrete examples from the participants’ daily work and different case studies from the region, as well as the European perspective were presented and thoroughly discussed.

In the training, the Director of the Albanian General Directorate of Anti-Corruption at the Ministry of Justice, acknowledged the assistance provided by the Council of Europe in supporting the investigative and auditing skills and capacities of the Directorate and of the Albanian Network of Anti-Corruption Coordinators, both of which newly established structures to effectively prevent and punish corruption in Albania.

The Action against Economic Crime in Albania is part of the “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, a joint programme of the European Union and Council of Europe, which aims at assisting beneficiaries in the Western Balkans region and Turkey to comply with the Council of Europe standards and European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process.