On 1-3 December, 170 representatives from related public institutions enhanced their capacities and skills to ensure the smooth functioning of the electronic system for asset declaration. Together with the previously trained group of 140 other representatives, they will provide assistance and facilitate the process of assets declarations by elected representatives and public officials, that have the obligation to declare their assets and conflict of interests.

The operationalisation of the new electronic system on assets declaration, scheduled to start in January 2022, is an important step to prevent and fight corruption among public officials in Albania. Established with the support of the European Union and Council of Europe joint ‘Action Against Economic Crime in Albania’ and the USAID and administered by the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Publication of Assets and Conflicts of Interests (HIDAACI), the system will ensure a simplified process of assets declaration and publication in real time by increasing the transparency and effectiveness of controls and administrative investigations, data processing electronically and their exchange with other law enforcement agencies.

The training session took place in the context of the ongoing assistance of the European Union and Council of Europe joint ‘Action Against Economic Crime in Albania’ in meeting the recommendations of the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).

The action 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, when relevant.