On May 21, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), in collaboration with the European Movement in Albania (EMA) and the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT), organized a roundtable discussion on the “Public Education Strategy on the Risks Posed by Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Our Society 2025–2027”.The focus was on the role that not only public institutions, but also civil society, educational institutions, the media, and the private sector should play.
The Director General of the FIA, Mr. Ervin Koçi, emphasized that the fight against money laundering (ML) and terrorist financing (TF) is a challenge that requires the involvement of society as a whole, not just state institutions. Without the engagement of universities, the media, civil society, and the private sector, any effort will be insufficient. In this context, public awareness, using various communication tools, public activities, and close cooperation with the private sector, universities, and civil society actors, plays a crucial role in achieving effective results.
Mr. Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of EMA, highlighted that with the acceleration of the EU integration process, the responsibility of institutions to carry out their obligations has increased. However, broader participation from all actors is also required. According to him, only through the activation and awareness-raising of various stakeholders can a true understanding be achieved of the effects and consequences of the reforms under the integration framework, which will bear costs for all sectors of society.
The President of the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Nikolin Jaka, spoke about the standards that Albanian businesses must adhere to, both at the national and international levels, in order to create an efficient, sustainable, and competitive economy. He emphasized that it is time for businesses to be more proactive, to invest more in human resources and technology, and to play an active role in the prevention of money laundering and the fight against terrorist financing.
The Director of Compliance department at FIA, Mr. Agim Muslia, presented the objectives, target groups, and activities of the Public Education Strategy on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Special attention was given to the importance of educating the public about the negative impact of money laundering on the economy, business, society, and national security. Society must be informed, not only at the institutional level, but also by engaging all stakeholders from the private sector in the prevention, coordination, and effective implementation of anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) measures.
Slovak expert in AML/CFT, Mr. Andrej Leontiev, shared EU best practices, where non-state actors such as journalists and civil society organizations have played a crucial role in drafting the 6th Anti-Money Laundering Directive. He highlighted that non-public actors, referred to as “gatekeepers,” can play a key role in this process. The presentation of cases related to the comparison of data with beneficial ownership registries and the reporting of suspicious transactions was met with great interest. Mr. Leontiev emphasized that for this process to succeed, public institutions must be cooperative and provide the necessary information, while the private sector must be self-motivated to implement policies and actions that contribute to anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT).
As part of the action plan for the “Public Education Strategy on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks 2025–2027,” FIA will continue with other awareness-raising activities.
