The project “Combating Money Laundering in Albania” supports Albanian authorities in preventing and combating money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) through a strategic, risk-based approach. It provides expert advice and capacity building for financial and non-financial sectors, while addressing emerging financial crime risks.
As part of this effort, the project reviewed the existing ML/TF risk-based supervision methodologies developed by the Albanian Ministry of Justice for notarial activities and real estate intermediaries, as well as those used by the Gambling Supervisory Authority in the gambling sector. Recommendations were provided to ensure these methodologies align with international standards and with the Albanian Anti-Money Laundering Law.
To support practical implementation, supervision manuals and toolkits were developed in close coordination with the authorities mentioned above. These manuals provide templates and guidance for on-site and off-site inspections, risk profiling, reporting systems, mitigation action plans, and sector-specific risk indicators and typologies.
Building on this work, the project delivered two training sessions on risk-based supervision on 24–25 March and 30–31 March 2026 for representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Financial Intelligence Agency, and the Gambling Supervisory Authority. The sessions, based on the newly developed supervision manuals, focused on their practical application and addressed proposed amendments to existing supervision methodologies, while also aiming to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation in combating ML in Albania. Through these sessions, participants gained hands-on experience with European standards for ML/TF risk identification and management, risk-based supervision practices, strategies to enhance the detection of suspicious activities, and mechanisms for conducting effective on-site and off-site inspections.
Overall, this support has strengthened the capacities of Albanian supervisory authorities to apply consistent, risk-based approaches, improving their ability to identify and mitigate ML/TF risks. It has promoted a more unified and proactive supervisory environment, enhancing the integrity of non-financial sectors and reducing their vulnerability to misuse for illicit purposes.
Moving forward, the project aims to extend its support beyond supervisory authorities to reporting entities - such as notaries, real estate agents, and casinos - by enhancing their knowledge and awareness of ML/TF risks.
This support was rendered in the framework of the project “Combating Money Laundering in Albania” co-financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe.
