Organized crime has emerged as one of the most important challenges for Albania since the beginning of the country’s political and economic transition. For this reason, the Albanian governments have taken continuous steps in the fight against it and since the mid-2000s a strategic approach through the adoption and implementation of sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies.

Since 2008, the Intersectoral Strategy for the Fight against Organized Crime, Trafficking and Terrorism 2008 – 2013 has been adopted, which at its conclusion was reviewed, and the Intersectoral Strategy for the Fight against Organized Crime, Illegal Trafficking and Terrorism 2013-2020 was approved.

Effective fight against organized crime is one of the key priorities for Albania’s further progress in the European Union membership process and the Intersectoral Strategy is the main document in this area. However, despite the relevance of this document for the institutional efforts to addressing the problem of organized crime, the monitoring and evaluation has not been carried out adequately and in accordance with the provisions set out in the Intersectoral Strategy.

As a result, unlike the Intersectoral Strategy on Anti Corruption 2015-2020, the Intersectoral Strategy for the Fight against Organized Crime 2013-2020 has had lower public visibility and less attention in terms of support for ensuring its most effective implementation.

Against this context, the Center for the Study of Democracy and Governance, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Albania, is implementing the project Baseline Assessment of the Albanian Intersectoral Strategy on Countering Organised Crime 2013-2020.

The objectives of the project are to support the process of reviewing and drafting the upcoming Intersectoral Strategy for the Fight against Organized Crime, to support the strengthening of the monitoring and evaluation capacities of the Strategy, and to improve communication and public consultation of processes.

In the framework of this project, this first roundtable discussion focused on the achievements and challenges of implementation the Intersectoral Strategy for the Fight against Organized Crime, Illegal Trafficking and Terrorism 2013-2020 and provide a platform for discussing issues related to the monitoring and evaluation processes and capacities of the institutions involved.