The Council of Europe through its joint European Union and Council of Europe project against Economic Crime (PECK III) is supporting Kosovo authorities in addressing the findings and recommendations from the AML/CTF Assessment Report of 2018 by addressing FATF Recommendation 1 and Immediate Outcome 1 which relate to concrete requirements to identify, assess and understand the ML/TF risks.

In view of the competent authorities’ preparation to initiate the subsequent ML/TF national risk assessment, PECK III organised a Workshop on 5 March 2024 with the aim of presenting the Council of Europe Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing risk assessment Methodology (ML/TF NRA) and conducting the upcoming NRA pursuant to this Methodology.

The event brought together senior officials representing line ministries, law enforcement officials, AML/CFT supervisors, the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, private sector, civil society and EU Delegation to Kosovo.

The event served as a platform for informing participants on the Council of Europe methodological support in conducting ML/TF national and sectoral risk assessments. Moreover, participants familiarised themselves with the ML/TF risk assessment Methodology, necessary organisational framework, data gathering modules and main implementation steps. They also benefitted from lessons learned and practical examples from previous assessments conducted in other jurisdictions.

While the FIU highlighted the importance of carrying out the process based on a sound and serious methodology, it also expressed commitment to lead and conduct the process. Following this workshop, the FIU will initiate the establishment of the Interagency Working Group on National Risk Assessment and Management (NRAM WG) and take further steps in this process. The PECK III fill provide technical support throughout the whole process. 

The activity was organised within the framework of the “Project against Economic Crime in Kosovo” (PECK III), jointly funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the latter.