AAPSK Chief Administrator at the “Resilient Voices” Regional Conference: Social reuse of criminal assets also serves to strengthen civil society
The Chief Administrator of the Agency for the Administration of Sequestered and Confiscated Assets (AAPSK), Risena Xhaja, participated in the Regional Conference "Resilient Voices: Civil Society in a Changing Western Balkans", which took place in Tirana and brought together important civil society actors, public institutions and international partners.
Xhaja was part of the panel "Funding Futures - Navigating Donor Shifts and Building Sustainability", where he discussed innovations and alternative models for sustainable development through the social reuse of seized and confiscated assets.
In her speech, she emphasized that Albania's experience has shown that seized and confiscated assets are not only a "symbol of justice in action", but also "a new source of economic and social empowerment for groups in need and civil society organizations".
"We have chosen to see social reuse not only as a symbolic tool, but as an instrument of financial sustainability. Through the use of confiscated assets, organizations have created income that enables them to increase their capacities, provide better quality services and remain independent in their activities," said Xhaja.
She brought concrete examples from Albania, such as opening social businesses on confiscated properties, using seized vehicles for community services, and transforming public spaces once occupied by "car graveyards" into "green spaces for citizens."
"Each of these initiatives is clear evidence that assets obtained from criminal activities can serve the community and be turned into a legitimate resource, strengthening civil society and increasing its resilience in the face of the challenges of the time, but also serving the community and especially vulnerable groups," she underlined.
During the discussion, Xhaja also emphasized that Albania's model is suitable to be shared with other countries in the region:
"In the Western Balkans, where international donors have been supportive and I take this opportunity to thank them, while civil society faces numerous pressures, such national mechanisms as the social reuse of confiscated assets create a new pillar of financial sustainability and public credibility," she said.
The panel, attended by the Chief Administrator of AAPSK, brought together senior representatives of the European Commission, Sida, the Open Society Foundation, as well as regional and European actors, who shared their experiences and models for the long-term strengthening of civil society.
The Regional Conference “Resilient Voices: Civil Society in a Changing Western Balkans” was organized by the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) and Partners Albania for Change and Development, with the support of international partners. The discussions focused on three key issues: protecting civic space and the legal framework, the role of civil society in the European integration process, and building financial sustainability through new support models.
This activity confirmed once again that civil society in the region remains an essential actor for democracy, reforms and the European Union integration process, bringing consistent voices in the face of the challenges of the time.
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