The second Steering Committee meeting of the Countering Money Laundering in Albania (CMLA) project brought together representatives of the Council of Europe, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and key Albanian partner institutions.

The meeting reviewed progress achieved over the past six months and discussed priorities for the next phase of implementation. Participants highlighted the project’s contribution to strengthening Albania’s AML/CFT framework, supporting preparations for the MONEYVAL 6th round mutual evaluation, and advancing alignment with European and international standards.

Key achievements included supporting beneficial ownership transparency; reviewing legislation to promote alignment with the EU AML/CFT framework; and strengthening the capacity of prosecutors, investigators, and other relevant institutions in financial investigations, asset recovery, and trade-based money laundering. Practical assistance was also provided to Customs and Border Police to strengthen controls over the cross-border movement of cash and other valuables.

Looking ahead, priorities include further strengthening beneficial ownership transparency; developing practical ML/TF risk-management guidance for private sector professionals; addressing emerging financial crime risks; strengthening the strategic analysis capacities of relevant authorities; and enhancing risk-based supervision and inter-agency cooperation.

Albanian partners actively contributed to the discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation. The Steering Committee will continue to provide strategic guidance to ensure that project support remains targeted, practical, and responsive to the needs of Albanian institutions.