Albania 
is trying to “repair its image” in the eyes of the European Union through the engagement of these institutions. This is in order to regain the trust and financial support of the latter. The Ministry of Finance has drafted and put out for public consultation the National Anti-Fraud Strategy for the Protection of the Financial Interests of the European Union, 2025-2030.
From the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime to the Supreme State Audit or the Financial Intelligence Agency.. Albania is trying, through the engagement of these institutions, to "repair its image" in the eyes of the European Union in order to regain the trust and financial support of the latter. The Ministry of Finance has drafted and put out for public consultation the National Anti-Fraud Strategy for the Protection of the Financial Interests of the European Union, 2025-2030.
"The strategy aims to improve the prevention, detection and counteraction to serious irregularities and fraud, focusing on identifying the risks to which EU funds may be exposed, as well as on improving internal control management systems, in order to prevent the occurrence of these irregularities ," the Ministry of Finance quotes.
With a focus on the absorption of all funds in general and those in agriculture in particular, the government offers guarantees to the European Union to prevent abuses with the now suspended IPARD funds. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has submitted to the European Commission structures since September last year an action plan with measures that will be taken to guarantee transparency, good management of EU funds as a guarantee for preventing abuses with this money.
"It is recommended to reflect in this document/action plan the external audit by an independent body on behalf of your authorities, which will be carried out at the AZHBR. In particular, the NAO should include such a commitment in the action plan as this audit, which will be carried out to correct deficiencies in the IPARD sector", quotes the Ministry of Finance.
The strategy that is being drafted for the first time aims, in addition to prevention, to also create mechanisms for the recovery of funds that have been abused.
"Conducting an analysis of past and ongoing cases of suspected irregularities/fraud and preparing and implementing measures for more effective recovery of funds," the Ministry of Finance quotes.
Abuses of IPARD funds in agriculture, FRONTEX funds for border management, along with the misuse of European Union funds through the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination have damaged Albania's image in the eyes of foreigners. Ilir Beqaj was previously arrested on SPAK orders on charges of abuse of European Union funds while heading the State Agency for Strategic Programming and Aid Coordination. (A2 Televizion)
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