synergies that further border security co-operation and contribute to tackling transnational crime. The PiA, for instance, facilitated and participated in bi-monthly joint meetings between the Albanian Border Police and fellow police bodies from neighbouring countries – mainly the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro. Such meetings helped to expand the exchange of information and identify training needs. In May-June, the PiA organized a joint training between border police officers from Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as well as between Albania and Kosovo. The training focused on the newly established Common Police Cooperation Centres which were the first of this kind in the region. The training was conceived in two days, with one theoretical and one practical part. Trainees were familiarized with the Agreements of the Centres, the working protocol and regulation, as well as with the forms and procedures to be used during their daily routine. Best practices from similar European Centres were brought and shared with the trainees. During 2013, the PiA concluded two rounds of “Leadership and Management Training” for 50 1st line managers operating as station commanders and shift leaders, as part of the greater Leadership programme being implemented by the PiA. At the same time, three rounds of one-week training on and the evaluation of the implementation of international border control procedures, were undertaken. Implemented by Albanian experts/evaluators, who were accompanied by a German expert, hired by the PiA, participants visited several pre-selected Border Crossing Points to assess the implementation of border control procedures, identify shortcomings and propose concrete recommendations. Trafficking in Human Beings Throughout 2013, the PiA supported policy-making, capacity building and awareness-raising in the field of anti-trafficking in Albania and pioneered new anti-trafficking approaches. Preventing forced labour through strengthened co-ordination and capacity building has been a priority of the Presence’s activities since 2011 when the work of migration authorities and NGOs pointed towards cases of foreign nationals potentially exploited into forced labour in Albania. The PIA held country-wide training for labour inspectors on the identification of trafficking for labour exploitation and worked with the State Labour Inspectorate to adopt guidelines for the identification of trafficking for labour exploitation. On 17 April, the PiA, in co-operation with the TNTD/SPMU, organized an experts’ seminar in Tirana on financial investigation and seizure of criminal assets related to different forms of human trafficking for Albanian police, prosecutors, judges and financial investigators. The ground-breaking seminar served as a platform for the development of recommendations to enable financial investigations in human trafficking cases. To improve the legislation and policy framework in the field of anti-trafficking, the PiA provided comments to the anti-trafficking provisions amending the Albanian Criminal Code and launched the development of the Guidelines for the Protection of Children in Street Situations. The PiA also participated in a working group on the analysis of human trafficking cases, established by the MoIA. The working group’s recommendations and the amended Criminal Code provisions were introduced at a national workshop for anti-trafficking police, judges and prosecutors. Drug Trafficking The PiA, in partnership with other international actors, has long been involved in the improvement of the ASP’s capacities to fight drug trafficking (in particular cannabis), a 48