Given the evolving risk of infiltration of organised crime and its sophisticated forms in economic and social life, the role of supervisory institutions remains crucial. A two-day training organised under the joint European Union and Council of Europe Action against Economic Crime in Albania, in cooperation with the Financial Intelligence Agency improved the skills of supervisory authorities overseeing non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs), including notaries, lawyers, real estate mediators, accountants, auditors and gambling service providers. Participants learnt to better identify, prevent, and respond to criminal infiltration and money laundering risks.
This event brought together twenty-five (25) representatives of supervisory institutions in the non-financial sector, including the Ministry of Justice, the National Bar Association, the Public Oversight Board, the Gambling Supervisory Authority, and the Financial Intelligence Agency.
Participants advanced their understanding of sector-specific vulnerabilities through focused discussions on the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks, complemented by international best practices for detecting suspicious activity and ensuring compliance with European standards.
Through practical tools, real-life case studies from both the Albanian and international contexts, and -peer-to-peer exchanges, the training promoted a more coordinated and proactive approach to supervision to reduce opportunities for misuse of the non-financial sector for illicit purposes. Council of Europe experts emphasised the adoption of a risk-based approach, the strengthening of mechanisms for detecting suspicious activities, analysis of criminal typologies and trends targeting the non-financial sector, and the effective planning of off-site and on-site inspections. This event also contributed to fostering stronger cooperation among supervisory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and the Financial Intelligence Agency in the fight against money laundering.
The event was organised by the Action against Economic Crime in Albania, as part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.