Spain and Albania step up their collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and his Albanian counterpart, Taulant Balla, after the signing of agreements

Spain and Albania have strengthened their cooperation against transnational organised crime, especially in the fight against drug and human trafficking and in the investigation of money laundering, according to the declaration signed in Madrid by the Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and his Albanian counterpart, Taulant Balla.

This text continues the foundations laid on 1 August 2022 with the international administrative agreement signed by the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, which enabled the creation of a joint investigation team in the fight against crime. After that date, Grande-Marlaska also met with his counterpart on 14 September 2023, in Tirana, at the meeting of the Berlin Forum.

The minister praised Albania's commitment to the fight against organised crime and called for the incorporation of the Balkan country as "a key partner" in international security initiatives. In the same vein, he assured the collaboration of the Spanish police forces in the projects financed by the European Union that are developed in Albania, such as EU4FOCAL, led by Spain and aimed at advising on the fight against organised crime.

"EU4FOCAL has not only contributed to judicial and police cooperation within the European Union, but has also made it possible to establish triangular cooperation with Latin American authorities, thus facilitating the fight against criminal organisations of Albanian origin operating on the other side of the Atlantic," said Grande-Marlaska.

The Spanish Home Affairs Minister mentioned "the undeniable results and mutual benefits" of bilateral cooperation, such as the creation of a joint team in the framework of Operation Nomad, which focused on human trafficking and document forgery.

The two ministers used the meeting to discuss Albania's accession process to the European Union, which has received Spain's full support. "You are an advanced country. Your geography, your history, your tradition and your reformist desire back you up and cement this path of integration", said Grande-Marlaska, who had met on 14 September with Majlinda Dhuka, Minister of State and chief negotiator of Albania's EU accession process.

Non official translation