{"id":24890,"date":"2026-01-21T17:40:58","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T17:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24890"},"modified":"2026-01-27T11:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T11:55:30","slug":"risks-of-the-fiscal-peace-agreement-law-potential-money-laundering-from-corruption-and-narcotrafficking-in-albania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24890&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"RISKS OF THE FISCAL PEACE AGREEMENT LAW \u2013 POTENTIAL MONEY LAUNDERING FROM CORRUPTION AND NARCOTRAFFICKING IN ALBANIA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Fiscal Peace Agreement Law<\/strong> (Law No. 84\/2025), introduced during the 2025 election period and approved in early 2026, was passed by Parliament and published in the Official Gazette in January 2026. The law was adopted almost without public consultation or substantive parliamentary debate. Closely linked to the Tax Amnesty Law<\/strong> (forgiveness of tax obligations), it significantly downplays the risks associated with large financial injections into the economy, including the laundering of funds originating from corruption and international organized narcotrafficking\u2014risks that the Fiscal Peace framework may ultimately facilitate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the A2 BUSINESSES<\/strong> program, moderator Aurora Sul\u00e7e<\/strong> discussed the law with Aranita Brahaj<\/strong>, Director of AIS \/ Open Data Albania<\/strong>, focusing on its key risks and potential consequences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. From negotiated tenders to \u201cnegotiated taxes\u201d: expansion of clientelism and corruption risk<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept of \u201cnegotiated taxes\u201d represents a serious compromise of administrative integrity and fiscal governance. Direct, face-to-face negotiations between businesses and tax authorities increase exposure to clientelism, corruption, and discretionary decision-making, undermining the principles of equal treatment and rule-based taxation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Discrimination and unfair treatment of struggling businesses<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only businesses reporting annual profit growth above 18% are eligible to request a fiscal peace agreement and benefit from reduced taxation (5% instead of 15%). Companies with lower growth rates or financial difficulties are excluded, creating structural discrimination and asymmetry within the business environment, while favouring already profitable enterprises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Risk of informality and money laundering<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses exceeding the 18% growth threshold may revise their balance sheets by injecting previously undeclared capital. This creates significant opportunities for money laundering and the formalization of illicit cash flows originating from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Corruption<\/li>
  2. International organized narcotrafficking<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Lack of transparency<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Tax Administration has removed public access to lists of businesses with outstanding tax obligations, substantially weakening public oversight, accountability, and investigative scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Role of the Open Corporates Albania<\/strong> database <\/strong>https:\/\/opencorporates.al\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Open Corporates Albania<\/strong> platform (https:\/\/opencorporates.al\/<\/a>) has already flagged unusual business developments preceding the implementation of the Fiscal Peace Agreement Law, identifying companies with exceptionally high profit margins relative to annual turnover (exceeding 40%). The platform will continue to publish data and monitor business trends throughout the law\u2019s implementation period, contributing to transparency and public awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Link to the A2 BUSINESSES program<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nSxIcExu8FQ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    #FiscalPeaceLaw<\/strong><\/a> #MoneyLaundering<\/strong><\/a> #CorruptionRisk<\/strong><\/a> #TaxPolicy<\/strong><\/a> #BusinessTransparency<\/strong><\/a> #OpenDataAlbania<\/strong><\/a> #TaxAmnesty<\/strong><\/a> #RuleOfLaw<\/strong><\/a> #OpenCorporatesAlbania<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    The Fiscal Peace Agreement Law (Law No. 84\/2025), introduced during the 2025 election period and approved in early 2026, was passed by Parliament and published in the Official Gazette in January 2026. The law was adopted almost without public consultation or substantive parliamentary debate. Closely linked to the Tax Amnesty Law (forgiveness of tax obligations), it significantly downplays the risks associated with large financial injections… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24897,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-184602.png?fit=978%2C663&ssl=1","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25285,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=25285&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":0},"title":"AIS Position on the Upcoming Rule of Law Report","date":"February 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The organization AIS wishes to express its concerns regarding several critical aspects of the rule of law in Albania, with a focus on the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) sector and legislation affecting Public Procurement, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and the privatization of state assets. 1. The SOE Sector as a High-Risk Area\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-27-090928.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24154,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24154&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":1},"title":"Concerns and Advocacy for Transparency on the Beneficial Ownership of Companies Providing Consultancy to the Albanian Government in Strategic Sectors","date":"August 26, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Three civil society organizations, engaged in issues related to transparency, anti-corruption, good governance, and reporting on organized crime and corruption, namely: The Albanian Network for Reporting on Organized Crime and Corruption, with Executive Director Lindita \u00c7elaThe Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER), with Executive Director Mr. Zef Pre\u00e7iThe Albanian Institute\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-05-26-163749.png?fit=972%2C848&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24663,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=24663&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":2},"title":"Workshop: \u201cPreventive Anti-Corruption Assessment of the Draft Law \u2018On the Extended Responsibilities of Producers of Products that Generate Waste\u2019\u201d","date":"October 31, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A\u00a0consultative workshop\u00a0on the\u00a0Preventive Anti-Corruption Assessment of the Draft Law \u201cOn the Extended Responsibilities of Producers of Products that Generate Waste\u201d\u00a0brought together Members of Parliament, representatives from civil society organizations, business associations, public institutions, and legal experts. The event gathered MPs from both the ruling majority and the opposition\u00a0Blendi Him\u00e7i, Zamira\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-21-at-15.44.48.jpeg?fit=1200%2C816&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23234,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=23234&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":3},"title":"Collaboration with Institutions. There has been public pressure for investigations and audits of reported high-risk cases.","date":"November 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The High State Audit (ALSAI), in preparing its Annual Audit Planning Methodology document, published in March 2024, (page 7), listed AIS\u2019s Open Data platforms - Open Procurement Albania and Open Spending Albania - as sources contributing to the collection of information and alerts during the drafting it\u2019s the Annual Audit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-2-1.png?fit=1153%2C873&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23502,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=23502&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":4},"title":"Transparency with Beneficial Ownership: Issues of Legislation, Practice, and Empowerment of Actors Working for Transparency","date":"January 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"AIS, the promoter of Open Data Albania, is actively working to enhance transparency in Beneficial Ownership and the Public Access Registry. Recognizing the crucial role investigative journalists play in uncovering and tracking cases of money laundering, corruption, conflict of interest, and undue influence, AIS\u2019s team of experts and data analysts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/IMG-20250125-WA0072-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23182,"url":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/?p=23182&lang=en","url_meta":{"origin":24890,"position":5},"title":"Tracking Corruption through Open Data and Evidence. Training for activists and journalists","date":"November 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A total of 85 young activists and journalists have been trained by the AIS organization on the practical aspects of Tracking Corruption through Open Data and Evidence-Based Data. The final session of this training took place on October 11-12th, as part of the activities of the EU4 Rule of Law:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ODA in Press Releases"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ndiqparate.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/image-1.png?fit=1165%2C1025&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcJP0S-6ts","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24890"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24890"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24971,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24890\/revisions\/24971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndiqparate.al\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}