Business transparency increases, more entities declared beneficial owners in 2025
The year 2025 has marked a significant increase in awareness and compliance with legal obligations by businesses regarding the declaration of beneficial owners, one of the key pillars of transparency and the fight against money laundering in Albania.
According to official data from the Central Bank of Kosovo, last year 5,356 entities declared their beneficial owners in the relevant Registry, marking an increase of 27% compared to 2024.
This positive trend reflects not only an increase in formal compliance with the law, but also a gradual change in business culture, where transparency is increasingly seen as an added value and not simply as an administrative obligation.
What is beneficial ownership and why is it essential?
A beneficial owner is considered to be a natural person who owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a legal entity, or on whose behalf a transaction or economic activity is carried out. His identification is essential to prevent the concealment of real ownership through formal structures, nominal partners or shell entities.
Accurate declaration of beneficial ownership increases market transparency, strengthens the trust of financial institutions, partners and investors, helps prevent money laundering and terrorist financing, and avoids the use of business for illegal purposes.
Legal obligation to declare the beneficial owner
The declaration of the beneficial owner is a legal obligation for all entities registered with the National Business Center, with the exception of natural persons.
The legal framework is based mainly on Law No. 112/2020, "On the Register of Beneficial Owners", as amended, which determines the entities obliged to declare, the criteria for identifying the beneficial owner, the deadlines and manner of declaration, as well as the administrative measures in case of non-declaration or incorrect declaration.
Also in Law No. 9917/2008, “On the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism”, as amended, the beneficial ownership register is an essential element of the national financial transparency system.
According to the law, every entity must declare the beneficial owner within the legal deadline after registration, update the data whenever there are changes in the ownership or control structure, as well as ensure the accuracy and consistency of the declared information.
Increase in declarations: indicator of business responsibility
The significant increase in the number of declarations during 2025 shows that businesses are becoming more aware of the importance of this process. Transparency is no longer seen only as a legal requirement, but as an element that directly affects reputation, access to financing and relationships with domestic and international partners.
"To comply with legal requirements, each entity must ensure that it accurately declares beneficial owners. This helps increase its credibility and avoids the possibility of penalties," the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBC) announced.
Simplified and online process
To facilitate the fulfillment of this obligation, the Central Bank of Kosovo has created the possibility for the declaration and updating of beneficial owners to be carried out online, through the official electronic platform. The process is integrated, fast and minimizes the administrative burden for entities, eliminating the need for physical presence.
This digitalization has been a key factor in increasing the number of declarations, making the process more accessible and efficient for businesses.
Transparency as the new market standard
As Albania aims to strengthen market integrity, improve the business climate, and align with European standards, the beneficial ownership register is becoming an essential instrument of good economic governance.
The 2025 data shows that businesses are increasingly understanding that transparency is not simply a legal obligation, but a long-term investment in reliability, stability, and sustainable development.
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