TIRANA, June 26 /ATA/ The wrap-up conference of the “Our Land” project, an innovative initiative for the social reuse of land confiscated from organized crime in Albania, was held today in Tirana.
The project, carried out by COSV in collaboration with ANRD and CGM, and in close partnership with the Agency for the Administration of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), has been funded by the European Commission and has been actively implemented since 2022 in the rural regions of Shijak and Tirana.
The Chief Administrator of AAPSK, Risena Xhaja, in her welcoming remarks, emphasized the strategic importance of the project in relation to the agency’s mission: “The ‘Toka Jonë’ project has been more than just a concrete intervention – it has been a valuable experience of learning, collaboration, and institutional growth.”
She highlighted that, thanks to this collaboration, confiscated land has been transformed into a source of employment, social development, and integration for marginalized groups in rural areas.
She emphasized that, as a result of this collaboration, confiscated lands have been transformed into sources of employment, social development, and integration for marginalized groups in rural areas.
During the implementation of the project, AAPSK also faced significant challenges, which served to improve internal processes. One such challenge was addressing property-related issues, which, according to Xhaja, “prompted the agency to strengthen risk assessment standards and to provide greater security for the organizations and communities developing these assets.”
Xhaja also emphasized that the project has facilitated AAPSK’s alignment with the best European standards for the administration of confiscated assets, further strengthening inter-institutional partnerships and cooperation with civil society.
In her concluding remarks, the Chief Administrator extended her sincere gratitude to all project partners and the European Commission, reaffirming AAPSK’s steadfast commitment to advancing its mission of the socially responsible management of seized and confiscated assets, with the overarching goal of reinforcing the rule of law and enhancing public confidence in governmental institutions.
/m.q//a.f//r.e/sm/
