Action against corruption and economic crime in Kosovo* builds on the previous joint European Union/Council of Europe programmes. It aims to bring continuous assistance to strengthen the framework to combat economic crime, including the effective prevention and fight against corruption, money laundering and terrorist financing.

Against the backdrop of rule of law reforms and revised legal and operational frameworks, technical assistance will focus on the following priority needs of Kosovo*.

• Support the sustained operationalisation of legal and institutional framework on prevention of and combating corruption to increase the opportunities for an enhanced integrity framework and countering corruption-related challenges. In particular, targeted support will be provided in relation to lobbying regulation in the context of decision-making and the application of risk mitigation measures and monitoring of their effectiveness.
• Improve law enforcement and criminal justice sector capacities in the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of money laundering, terrorist financing and related predicate offences.
• With regard to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) risk-based supervisory oversight, focused support will aim at improving risk-based supervision and compliance, especially in high-risk non-financial sectors and in relation to emerging and new trends and technologies.

The Action will look at developing effective and sustainable capacities for the implementation of anti-corruption and AML/CFT measures among practitioners and policy makers. To this end, the Action will strive to close existing gaps in the regulatory system and, most importantly, to ensure that local officials handling economic crime cases and enforcing prevention mechanisms have the tools, knowledge and skills to efficiently and effectively fulfil their respective professional duties.

*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.