The fight against money laundering/ Balluku: Increasing performance, responding to requests in time

2024-07-24 12:32:00, Aktualitet CNA

The fight against money laundering/ Balluku: Increasing performance, responding

The Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku

The Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, in the meeting with the members of the Coordination Committee of the Fight Against Money Laundering, emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership with the private sector.

Balluku also asked for increased attention regarding 2 measures in the work plan for the 2024-2030 agenda

She has stated that there has been a fundamental change in the performance of all the institutions that are part of this table, compared to the meeting of December 2023, and this shows the responsibility to continue and increase the level and quality of the requirements set by the European Union and by MONEYVAL.

"In the drafting of the strategy, a special attention was given to close cooperation with the private sector, such as banks, notaries, auditors, intermediaries, foreign exchange offices, building associations, who were fully engaged in the process of drafting this document. and consultation of this strategy in public.

It is worth noting that the representatives of the private sector are members of the Technical Inter-institutional Work Group, which was established by the decision of this Committee in December 2023 and is a proof of the importance we have given to strengthening the partnership with the private sector, being becoming one of the first countries in the region and beyond has undoubtedly consolidated this form of partnership.

The strategy document that was presented for approval is focused on 6 major objectives which will be fulfilled through the detailed measures of the Action Plan accompanying this strategy.

I would also particularly like to bring to your attention that the adoption of the strategy is one of the measures that we must fulfill within the Reform agenda as part of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The adoption of this strategy will undoubtedly bring benefits to Albania of modest value, but which is significant as it consolidates the process. It is a grant of 1.5 million euros which is granted within the Growth Plan.

During the last meeting of the Committee, we approved the National Risk Assessment and the Action Plan, while today's meeting is scheduled to evaluate the implementation report for the first 6 months of this plan.

In implementation of the tasks left by the Committee, the continuous commitment of the institutions that you lead is necessary for the implementation of the action plans that are part of the evaluation of MONEYVAL and of the evaluation by the European Commission, but also of course for the benefit of the grant which gives us granted within the growth plan.

On the other hand, since Albania will undergo the evaluation process by the MONEYVAL Committee during the year 2025-2026, the preparatory work being undertaken by all institutions will serve to enable a positive evaluation.

It is of particular importance that all the institutions that you lead commit with maximum commitment to fulfill all the requirements so that the next assessment of MONEYVAL for Albania maintains the positive assessment trend that we have already consolidated.

The measures that require your attention in particular are:

§ Engagement of staff with knowledge of the field, to respond in time to the requests of evaluation experts. In this context, staff sustainability is also an important aspect that must be considered by all managers.

§ Clear identification of budgetary needs for the establishment of systems and the increase of institutional capacities, in order to address them in time, in coordination with international partners", the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized. / CNA