The Chief Administrator of AAPSK: We deepen cooperation, approximation with best European practices
May 29, 2025
The Chief Administrator of the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Ms. Risena Xhaja, participated in the Fourth EU-Eastern Partnership Legal Forum, which was held in Warsaw, Poland. This forum brought together high-level representatives from state institutions, law enforcement agencies and international organizations to discuss strengthening best practices for the recovery […]
The Chief Administrator of the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Ms. Risena Xhaja, participated in the Fourth EU-Eastern Partnership Legal Forum, which was held in Warsaw, Poland. This forum brought together high-level representatives from state institutions, law enforcement agencies and international organizations to discuss strengthening best practices for the recovery and administration of seized and confiscated assets in the context of the fight against organized crime in the countries of the region and beyond.
During her intervention on the panel, Ms. Xhaja presented the experience and practices that AAPSK has developed in the effective administration of seized and confiscated assets in Albania, as an essential component in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
She emphasized the Agency’s increasingly important role in ensuring the integrity and transparency of the asset management process, noting the progress made with the drafting of the Manual of Procedures for the Management of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets – a key document that standardizes institutional steps and guarantees equal and legal treatment for each category of assets administered by the AAPSK.
“Through this manual, we create a clear framework for asset management, which includes detailed procedures for taking into administration, preserving, temporarily using, or selling assets in accordance with the decisions of the competent authorities,” stated Ms. Xhaja. “This is a crucial step towards increasing the professionalization and harmonization of our practices with European Union standards.”
She also focused on the challenges associated with managing complex assets such as active businesses or high-value assets and the need for close cooperation with justice institutions, police, taxes and financial investigation units for an efficient and impartial process.
The Chief Administrator of AAPSK also noted the importance of sharing experiences between participating countries and the need to further deepen regional cooperation, with the aim of building technical and institutional capacities in this field.
AAPSK’s participation in this forum underlines Albania’s commitment to being an active part of international efforts in the fight against illicit assets and to advance the fulfillment of European integration priorities, through strengthening the rule of law and improving mechanisms for the fight against organized crime.