In her opening remarks, Minister Ibrahimaj appreciated that Albania has reached a pivotal milestone following the official confirmation of its Cluster 1 (Fundamentals) benchmarks at the 8th Accession Conference. This achievement paves the way to wrap up advanced technical talks, including Chapter 30 on international trade.

Minister Ibrahimaj During Albania’s 2026 CEFTA Chairmanship, the Minister highlighted CEFTA’s pivotal role in preparing the region for the EU Single Market in line with the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Albania’s agenda focuses on building a more connected region by cutting border delays, expanding digital infrastructure, aligning with EU standards, and boosting institutional collaboration.

Minister Ibrahimaj also emphasized the importance of advancing the SEED+ and Green Lanes initiatives, harmonizing working hours at border crossings, and the possibility of 24/7 operation at several strategic border crossings.

To boost regional digital transactions and paperless trade, Albania reaffirmed its commitment to mutually recognizing electronic signatures, seals, and product testing results.

Minister Ibrahimaj stressed that recognizing professional qualifications will unlock economic opportunities and ease worker mobility. She also thanked the European Commission and the CEFTA Secretariat for their continued support of the Albanian Chairmanship. /a.f/p.s./

The minister marked the 20th anniversary of CEFTA suggesting the need to move towards concrete results, accelerating the economic integration of the region and making regional cooperation tangible for businesses and citizens.

She underlined that CEFTA is a key instrument for building a functional regional market and for implementing initiatives such as the Regional Common Market and the European Union Growth Plan, which create real opportunities for economic growth and preparation for integration into the European single market.

Minister Ibrahimaj said that the priority will be to facilitate trade by reducing time and costs at the border, developing further the green corridors and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation, with the aim of creating a faster and more predictable market for businesses.

She also spoke about the digitalization of trade procedures, through the application of paperless systems and reliable digital services, reducing bureaucracy and increasing transparency.

Referring to trade data, the minister announced that during 2025, Albania’s trade exchanges with CEFTA countries reached around 123 billion lekë, while the country continues to maintain a positive trade balance.

She said that Kosovo remains the main destination for Albanian exports, while Serbia is the main partner for imports. Albanian exports to the region are mainly supported by the energy, construction materials, agro-food products and processing industry sectors.

Attending the event were representatives from the European Union Delegation, CEFTA Director Pranvera Kastrati and President of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ines Muçostepa. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

During the discussion of the draft law in the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Musabelliu emphasized that the decision creates a common regional framework for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, based on the principles of non-discrimination and most-favored-nation between the CEFTA parties.

According to him, the decision strengthens the enforcement of these rights in accordance with the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization and European Union standards, especially in the protection of trade secrets. It provides for more efficient and timely procedures for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including the use of electronic applications.

Musabelliu underlined that the draft law also promotes cooperation and capacity building between CEFTA countries through the exchange of information, training and technical assistance, contributing to the creation of a safer legal and economic environment for investors and businesses.

According to the deputy minister, the adoption of this draft law brings Albania closer to European best practices in the field of intellectual property and strengthens a more transparent and protected system for market development and innovation.

“The decision of the CEFTA Joint Committee aims to establish common rules for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights between member countries, guaranteeing unified minimum standards, the principles of non-discrimination and the most favored nation”, he concluded. /e.xh/r.e/a.f/p.s./

The government forwarded to the Assembly the ratification of the decision of the CEFTA Joint Committee, “On facilitating trade in services provided by travel agencies and tour operators”.

According to the attached report, the decision aims to ensure that the rules for exercising tourism activities do not become barriers to trade in services, guaranteeing equal treatment and non-discrimination for operators from the CEFTA countries.

An important element of the decision is the possibility for tourism services to be offered temporarily in other countries of the region, without the need to open an office or obtain a new license, which is expected to increase competition and regional cooperation in tourism.

The draft law is part of Albania’s commitments within the framework of the CEFTA Agreement and development of the regional common market, modeled after the principles of the European Union. /j.p/p.s./

During the meeting, there were positively assessed the progress achieved within the framework of the priorities of the 2025 chairmanship.

The Albanian Customs reported today that CEFTA has published the main results achieved at the 29th meeting of the Subcommittee on Customs and Rules of Origin.

Thus, the Strategy for Customs Risk Management 2025–2028 has been finalized; there were approved new structures for customs cooperation such as the Advisory Body on Tariff Classification & Rules of Origin and the Working Group on AEO (Authorized Economic Operators).

During the CEFTA subcommittee meeting, there was discussed on the CEFTA Risk Management Strategy for the period 2025-2028, as well as implementation of a pilot project for the creation of an electronic system within the SEED+ platform, which aims to facilitate risk management for trade in goods in the region, the expansion of the “Green Corridors” with EU countries and increased cooperation with the EU through the Revised PEM Convention.

There were discussions also on the customs cooperation on tariff classification and rules of origin, to strengthen standards and transparency in cross-border trade between CEFTA member countries.

During the meeting, there was highlighted the significance of regional cooperation in the customs field, as a key step towards increasing trade efficiency and better economic integration between the CEFTA countries. /e.i/j.p/p.s./

These agreements mark a milestone for economic cooperation within CEFTA and promise real, tangible benefits- simplifying business operations, creating new job opportunities, and strengthening consumer protections.

Just days ahead of the Berlin Process celebrating its 10th anniversary, CEFTA is taking a decisive step toward realizing the vision of a Common Regional Market. Anchored in EU rules and best practices, these agreements will bring the CEFTA markets closer to the EU Single Market and unlock the potential of the EU’s New Growth Plan.

Danijela Gačević, Acting Director at CEFTA Secretariat, stated in her remarks that CEFTA is of fundamental importance for the free movement of goods and services, driving economic growth and integration.

“With these decisions, we are creating a stronger, more unified economic space where businesses can grow faster, and consumers are protected even when shopping beyond their local markets. This is a significant moment for CEFTA as we are moving closer to full alignment with the EU market. The benefits will be felt across the entire CEFTA. Small and medium companies will be empowered to export and make the best use of digital markets, while all of us will benefit from more choice, better price and quality and more robust consumer protection,” she said

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The decision was made by the CEFTA’s Joint Committee to accept Kosovo’s request to participate under its own name instead of UNMIK and it represents a notable achievement in the country’s efforts to establish its sovereignty in regional trade matters.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the Minister of Industry, Enterprise, and Trade, Rozeta Hajdari, stressed the importance of this development.

“Finally, the participation of UNMIK has ended in CEFTA,” she stated, highlighting the dedication of Kosovo’s government to improve its position in this important regional mechanism.

Kosovo had been represented in CEFTA – the agreement aimed at increasing trade in goods and services, eliminating trade barriers between the parties and attracting investment – ​​through the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since 2007, when it joined it.

This change follows Kosovo’s recent decision to lift a ban on Serbian goods, aimed at preventing its exclusion from key initiatives such as the Berlin Process. Authorities in Kosovo also reopened the main border crossing at Merdare for Serbian goods, ending a year-long suspension that had been implemented amid security concerns.

The tenth Berlin Process meeting is scheduled for October 14, marking its tenth anniversary.

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CEFTA assessment team, under the supervision of DG TAXUD of the European Union concluded at the end of the evaluation days in Tirana that the Albanian Customs program for Authorized Economic Operators has met all the criteria, according to CEFTA Protocol standards getting a positive opinion.

At the event organized for this purpose in Tirana, the chairman of the CEFTA assessment team, Vladimir Ilic stated that Albania has the AEO program, just like every other EU member state.

“We have given a positive opinion. What does a positive opinion mean to you? It means that the AEO program in Albania is in fact the same as the AEO program in the European Union, and for the key elements and the key standards that the EU has. And I think it will bring many benefits to Albanian companies and to all businesses that are in Albania. In the CEFTA region, there are several countries such as Serbia, North Macedonia and Moldova, while Albania is the next country to receive this status. “We can say that you have the AEO program just like every other EU member state,” Ilic said.

While the observer of the CEFTA assessment team, representative of DG TaXUD in the European Commission Antonie Blanko said that the report has just been submitted to the Customs and it has been a very positive report.

“This week a team from CEFTA has come to evaluate the program of Authorized Economic Operators. This authorization offers benefits to the AEOs and these companies have shown that they comply with all Albanian Customs rules. The team has visited several companies and has been impressed by both the professionalism and the organization of these companies. My role has been in the quality of the observer of the evaluation team. We have just given our report to the Customs and it has been a very positive report”, stated Blanko. /j.p/p.s./

Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia already have bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of AEO in the framework of the “Open Balkan” initiative and the same text of the agreement has been negotiated at the technical level with Kosovo. The agreement with Kosovo is expected to be signed at the joint meeting of the two governments to be held on June 24, 2022.

The meeting for mutual recognition of AEO within CEFTA was held today in Tirana, where the General Director of Customs Gent Gazheli was present, as well as representatives of the validation team of the program, CEFTA, GIZ and DG Taxud.

Gazheli said that Albania has already harmonized the legislation with the EU for AEOs.

Meanwhile so far, according to him, 8 operators have gained this status.

“During 2021, we received the first applications and approved the status of 8 Authorized Economic Operators, mainly from the most consolidated and most correct businesses in the relationship with the Customs Administration. The interest of 9 other operators to obtain the status of Authorized Economic Operators is an indicator of the increased trust in the customs administration and the fact that the advantages of AEO are efficient “, said Gazheli.

But, he noted, the AEO status for economic operators would be incomplete without the joint recognition of the countries of the region, as the aim is to facilitate procedures for AEO in export and import with the countries of the region and further with the member states of the European Union.

“The Albanian Government priority is to create a favorable climate for business, which it considers the engine of economic development of the country. So, the mutual recognition of AEOs between CEFTA member countries undoubtedly brings great relief to the Operators who will benefit from this status throughout the region”, said head of the Albanian customs. /j.p/p.s./

According to the Tirana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the improved rules will be transitional and will cease to apply when the revised Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin (PEM Convention) is adopted and enters into force by all parties.

The law ratifying the decision of the Joint Committee of the Central European Free Trade Agreement published in the Official Gazette stipulates that pending the conclusion and entry into force of the amendment to the convention, the CEFTA parties have agreed apply the applicable transitional rules of origin.

The law on ratification of the decision of the Joint Committee of the Central European Free Trade Agreement published in the Official Gazette stipulates that until the completion entry into force of the amendment to the convention, the CEFTA parties have agreed to apply the applicable transitional rules of origin. //a.i/