TIRANA, Sept 25 /ATA/ Albania and Greece have agreed to strengthen customs collaboration through joint border management, electronic data exchange and measures to ease trade and movement between the two countries. The commitment was underlined in Tirana at the 14th High‑Level Bilateral Meeting of the two customs administrations, where Albania’s Director General of Customs, Besmir Beja, hosted his Greek counterpart, Dimitrios Bourikos.
The 14th High‑Level Bilateral Meeting between the customs administrations of Albania and Greece centred on joint border management, streamlined trade procedures, the operationalisation of Green Lanes and the SEED+ system, digitalisation and electronic data exchange, as well as reinforced cooperation against smuggling and illicit trafficking.
One of the concrete developments discussed was the launch of electronic data exchange at the Kakavijë border crossing. According to Albania’s General Directorate of Customs, the implementation phase on the Albanian side has been completed and data are now being transmitted to the Greek customs administration. The cooperation is expected to be gradually extended to other border points, aiming to improve risk analysis, accelerate procedures and increase the efficiency of customs controls.
Talks also covered monitoring flows and schedules at joint border points, strengthening cooperation between the two customs structures and further developing collaboration between Saranda and Corfu.
In the context of the European integration process, the customs administrations of Albania and Greece shared experiences on EU digital customs systems, interoperability and risk management. The two sides agreed to continue technical cooperation, training programmes and the exchange of expertise.
The meeting concluded with agreement on further steps towards the full operationalisation of Green Lanes, the expansion of electronic data exchange and the strengthening of operational cooperation between the customs administrations of Albania and Greece.
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