The inaugural Steering Committee meeting of the project Countering Money Laundering in Albania (CMLA) brought together representatives from the Council of Europe, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Financial Intelligence Agency of Albania (FIA) and other key national partner institutions.

The meeting marked an important milestone in guiding the project’s implementation. It provided a platform for partners to exchange views, align on priorities, and ensure a shared understanding of the project’s strategic direction for the months ahead. Participants engaged in constructive discussions on the project’s objectives, expected results, and planned activities, laying the groundwork for a coordinated and effective approach.

Emphasis was placed on adopting a risk-based approach to tackling money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) across both supervisory bodies and obliged entities. Participants also identified areas where targeted support and capacity-building efforts would bring added value. Discussions underscored the importance of adapting responses to emerging financial crime threats and strengthening cooperation among relevant institutions.

In their opening remarks, the SECO, FIA and Council of Europe representatives highlighted the importance of reinforcing Albania’s institutional and regulatory framework to combat ML/TF. They stressed that sustained efforts in this area are especially important in the context of Albania’s on-going sixth round mutual evaluation by MONEYVAL.

Representatives from Albanian institutions actively contributed to the dialogue, sharing insights, experiences, and sector-specific priorities. They reaffirmed their strong commitment to achieving the project’s objectives and to further strengthening national capacities to prevent and combat financial crime.

The Steering Committee will continue to play a central role in overseeing the project’s progress, ensuring effective coordination among stakeholders, and supporting the successful delivery of planned activities.

This project is co-funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.