The EU and Council of Europe joint Action against Economic Crime in Albania in close collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, is contributing to the improvement of the draft-law on the establishment of the Asset Recovery Office (ARO) in Albania in compliance with international and European standards.

The action has initiated the review of the draft-law on ARO to identify any gaps, inconsistencies and needs. The revision process aims to bring the legal provisions closer to the international standards and European good practices. In this framework, two online consultative meetings were held on 21 and 22 November 2023 in Tirana with domestic counterparts to discuss the initial findings of the review of the draft law which aims to establish an efficient functioning of the new Asset Recovery Office in Albania.

The establishment of Asset Recovery Office marks an important milestone for Albania, not only in terms of strengthening the process of criminal justice and fight against economic crime, but also as a priority in the EU integration process and harmonisation of the domestic legal framework with the EU acquis.

The Asset Recovery Office with the close co-operation of domestic institutions and other international bodies will contribute to identifying and tracing the proceeds of criminal offences and other unlawful assets, exchange practices with other European similar structures aiming to deprive the criminals from their illicit profits. The Inter-Institutional Working Group spearheaded by the representatives of the Ministry of Interior and General State Police is steering this legislative process, which aims to be concluded by the end of 2023. Relevant public authorities such as the Ministry of Justice, General Prosecution Office, Special Prosecution Office against Organized Crime, Financial Intelligence Agency, Agency for Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets have contributed to this process.

The Action against Economic Crime in Albania is part of the Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III, a joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe, which aims at assisting Beneficiaries in the Western Balkans region and Türkiye to comply with the Council of Europe standards and the European Union acquis in the framework of the enlargement process, when relevant.