According to the State Department “major proceeds-generating crimes in Albania include drug trafficking, tax evasion, smuggling, and human trafficking while the country has a substantial black market for smuggled goods, and smuggling is facilitated by weak border controls and customs enforcement.”

In its earlier findings, the report prepared for the US Congress points out that Albania produces and exports significant amounts of marijuana, primarily for European use, and is a transit country for Afghan heroin and cocaine, serving as a key gateway for heroin distribution throughout Europe.

“Albania serves as a base of operations for regional organized crime organizations. Illicit proceeds are easily laundered.” – notes the INCSR.

Albania’s real estate sector (particularly in the coastal areas), business development projects, and gaming are among the most popular methods of hiding illicit proceeds.  Law enforcement recognizes the need to combat money laundering but remains largely ineffective in doing so.

While the Albanian State Police has a dedicated Economic Crime Unit tasked with anti money laundering efforts, better collaboration between police and prosecutors is needed.

The United States says that in 2016, the Albanian parliament passed several significant constitutional and legal reforms aimed at tackling corruption and organized crime.  The reforms, if implemented properly, will result in better enforcement of money laundering and other financial crime laws.

“While the Government of Albania passed criminal code reforms and legislative amendments in 2012, implementation efforts have been weak.  Despite a sizeable number of money laundering investigations, the number of money laundering prosecutions remains low. Through mid-year 2016, four money laundering cases were referred to the court for prosecution while seven defendants were convicted of the offense.” – highlights the State Department to Congress.

On July 22, 2016, Albania passed substantial amendments to its Constitution to reform the justice system, including vetting judges and prosecutors for corruption and links to organized crime, and creating an independent, vetted, and monitored court and prosecutorial office for cases of high-level corruption and organized crime, which would include organized narcotics traffickers.  Several laws necessary for the implementation of the constitutional changes were passed in October 2016.  Albania is under heavy pressure from the US and the European Union to implement the laws effectively and continue to develop the effectiveness of its police and prosecutors that focus on corruption, money laundering, and economic crimes.

However, during the last 3 weeks, the opposition democrats have entered a parliamentary boycott demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the establishment of a technical government which will lead the country to free and fair elections in June.

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During his quick visit in Albania\’s capital Tirana, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder met with Albanian PM Edi Rama, Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta both of the governing coalition and with other political and economic representatives of the country.

Schroeder who was accompanied throughout his visit from MEP Knut Fleckenstein also spoke at an economic forum where he said that after Brexit Europe \”is going through a new chapter which goes beyond the political dimension and that the current European crisis is one of structures, adding in here the risks threatening world economy from North Africa and Middle East\”.

Schroeder said in Tirana that the European integration continues to be a blessing for Europe and the EU should continue to expand, as this has been a Union of stability for all.

Former German Chancellor confirmed in Tirana that despite Brexit and enlargement fatigue, Germany will continue to support Albania\’s bid to join the club, adding that in order to advance, Albania needs to prove that it can not only take good decisions, but it also implements them, referring to the latest approval of a major constitutional package of justice reform by the Albanian parliament last July.

Schroeder also praised the latest efforts by Albania and Serbia to work closer together, suggesting that the more Balkan countries work together in regional infrastructural connectivity, the easier would be for foreign investors to look at this poorer part of Europe longing to join the crisis torn European Union.

Schroeder visits Albania at a time when the small Balkan country is hoping to open accession talks with the EU, pending a positive recommendation from the European Commission, which has put Albania on a strict agenda of major structural reforms. The decision is to be taken by the end of this year by member states who are reluctant to show any enthusiasm on EU enlargement, largely affected by upcoming elections in France and Germany next year.

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