The discussions focused on implementing the action plan for the Common Regional Market, strengthening economic cooperation and advancing the Western Balkans’ convergence with the European Union by reducing trade barriers and enhancing competitiveness.

In her remarks, Minister Ibrahimaj stressed that the next phase of regional cooperation should focus on implementation and delivering tangible results for businesses and citizens.

“Our priority must be clear: to move from commitments to implementation and from agreements to measurable results for businesses and citizens,” Ibrahimaj said.

In this regard, the minister outlined the priorities of Albania’s CEFTA chairmanship in the agreement’s 20th year, with a focus on facilitating trade and reducing costs for businesses.

The measures include expanding Green Lanes, aligning the working hours of authorities at border crossing points, simplifying checks on fruit and vegetables, recognising conformity assessment results for industrial products, and promoting the use of electronic trust services.

“Regional integration should not be measured by the number of agreements we adopt, but by the time and money businesses save and the opportunities we create for them to grow,” the minister said.

Alongside trade facilitation, Ibrahimaj stressed the need for a more integrated regional space for investment, production and innovation. In this context, one of the priorities of Albania’s CEFTA chairmanship is “Higher Quality Investment & Higher Productivity”, aimed at attracting investment that brings technology and skills, boosts productivity, and develops skills and jobs.

The minister also stressed the importance of developing regional value chains in complementary sectors such as agri-food, manufacturing, tourism and services, as well as strengthening links between companies in the region and European value chains. Innovation, digitalisation and human capital development were highlighted as key factors for the region’s future competitiveness.

Part of the discussion focused on the link between regional integration and the European integration process. Ibrahimaj stressed that the Common Regional Market is not an alternative to EU integration, but a practical instrument for accelerating it.

“For Albania, the Common Regional Market is not an alternative to European integration. It is a practical instrument for accelerating it,” Ibrahimaj said.

In this regard, the minister highlighted the role of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, which links regional economic integration with gradual access to the EU Single Market in areas including goods, services, the movement of workers, SEPA, road transport, energy and digital integration.

“Albania is the best-performing country in the region when it comes to implementing the Growth Plan,” the minister said.

Ibrahimaj said regional integration should maintain common standards while allowing countries that are ready to advance more quickly in specific areas. She stressed that flexibility should speed up integration rather than lead to fragmentation, and invited ministers and international partners to Tirana to discuss the next phase of the region’s economic integration.

/sm/