Albania has not been on this list since 2015.
On Friday, Moneyval's task force released a list of countries under extended monitoring. Subject to this list are countries that have strategic deficiencies in preventing money laundering and organized crime.
These include Albania, Barbados, Jamaica, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Uganda. But, according to the Ministry of Finance, the operation of the Law Enforcement Force against crime assets is clear evidence that Albania wants to fight this phenomenon.
"The most fundamental deficiencies found are outside the executive bodies, prosecution offices, and courts," Minister Denaj said.
PM Rama acknowledged the problems with organized crime and money laundering as well as the problems that these phenomena can cause to the integration, in an activity for EU enlargement with the Balkan countries.
“Albania or any other country at this stage of the integration journey, like other countries before, are not without problems. There is no doubt that organized crime, corruption, deficiencies in public administration are real challenges and problems that need to be resolved. There is no doubt about it. If these were not real and serious at this stage, why should we seek the opening of negotiations, but we could request to become immediately, EU member.” Rama said. The Moneyval Financial Task Force is a permanent Council of Europe mechanism tasked with assessing the implementation of standards in the fight against money laundering and organized crime.