TIRANA, April 28 – Albania has welcomed the MONEYVAL assessment mission, which focuses on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing efforts. The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) removed Albania from its grey list in 2023. Authorities present this decision, along with improving financial indicators, as evidence of progress, saying it strengthens Albania’s position as a reliable international partner.
Deputy Prime Minister Albana Koçiu said exiting the grey list represents an important achievement, noting that several European countries remain on it. She added that government measures against money laundering have increased trust in the banking system and supported investment through economic formalisation.
Koçiu said Albania welcomed the MONEYVAL mission and described the exit from the FATF grey list as a key milestone in financial reform. Authorities continue efforts to formalise the economy, while also working to reduce cash use and expand digital payments.
She said capital now circulates more through the banking system, with institutions applying closer monitoring of financial flows. She also said authorities have tripled asset freezes and seizures linked to suspicious sources.
In the first months of the year, online transactions rose by 30 percent, while euro transactions increased by 25 percent. Bank lending grew by 13 percent last year, and foreign direct investment reached 1.5 billion euros.
Koçiu said these indicators reflect stronger reliance on regulated financial channels. She added that a new law strengthens real-time monitoring of suspicious transactions, while new technologies and artificial intelligence are expected to improve enforcement capacity.
The government said it will continue reforms aimed at building a more transparent financial system aligned with European standards.
/a.p./
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