TIRANA, June 12 /ATA/ The Director General of Customs, Besmir Beja, participated in the Third Conference of Directors General of Customs from Western Balkan countries and European Union member states, held in Athens, Greece.
The conference, titled “Connecting Markets, Harmonizing Standards: Green Lanes as a Pillar of Enhanced Integration in the EU Single Market,” brought together heads of customs administrations from CEFTA countries and EU member states, representatives of the European Commission, as well as representatives of the business community and regional and international organizations.
The event was organized by the CEFTA Secretariat through the SEED+ initiative, in cooperation with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue of the Hellenic Republic and the Transport Community Secretariat. It served as an important platform for advancing customs cooperation and supporting the gradual integration of the region’s countries into the European Single Market.
During the second panel, dedicated to the strategic role of customs administrations in the European integration process, the Director General of Customs, Besmir Beja, shared Albania’s experience in modernising customs procedures, facilitating trade, and strengthening regional cooperation.
The discussion highlighted that customs cooperation no longer represents only a tool for trade facilitation, but an important mechanism for economic integration and alignment with European Union standards.
In this context, Beja noted that the modernisation of customs processes, information exchange, and coordination between administrations remain essential elements for creating faster, safer, and more predictable trade.
He also stressed that the Green Lanes initiative represents a concrete step towards bringing Western Balkan countries closer to European Union standards and practices.
Participants also discussed strengthening cooperation between the customs administrations of CEFTA countries and the European Union through interoperable systems, coordinated risk management, Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programmes, and alignment with the new reform of the Union Customs Code.
Particular attention was given to the role of electronic data exchange through the SEED+ platform as a key tool for increasing transparency, accelerating border procedures, and strengthening cooperation between administrations.
At the conclusion of the conference, the final declaration was presented, summarising the shared priorities and commitments agreed upon during the discussions.
Participants reaffirmed the importance of customs cooperation as a concrete driver of European integration, with a focus on digitalisation, system interoperability, coordinated risk management, partnerships with economic operators, and the continued implementation of Green and Blue Lanes supported by SEED+.
They also stressed the need to move from political commitments to the practical implementation of measures that strengthen economic and trade links between the region’s countries and the European Union.
This year’s conference follows the second edition held in Tirana in June 2025, organised by Albanian Customs, which brought together heads of customs administrations from the Western Balkans and European Union member states to discuss shared priorities in the customs field and European integration.
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