The meeting was attended by the Ministers of Finance from the Western Balkan countries, including North Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro; the Deputy Minister of Finance of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the Prime Minister of Montenegro; high-level representatives from the European Commission and the World Health Organization, as well as representatives from the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the World Customs Organization.

The discussions of the participants focused on the political commitment to eliminating tax evasion and the illicit trade in tobacco products in the Western Balkans.

In his speech, Minister Malaj commended the organization of the meeting and stressed the importance of stepping up cooperation between Western Balkan countries and international organizations to combat the illicit trade in tobacco products, emphasizing that this issue not only damages the economy through fiscal losses but also presents significant risks to public health.

“In the Western Balkans, countries like Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina face similar challenges related to the illicit trade in tobacco products and the effects of rising excise taxes. Collaboration with these countries is essential to enhance monitoring capabilities and create a more transparent market. Harmonized policies and joint controls, both with domestic institutions and international partners, have demonstrated that a coordinated regional strategy can help reduce informality and boost fiscal revenues,” said Malaj.

The Minister stated that Albanian authorities, in collaboration with international institutions, have ratcheted up border controls, operations against smuggling networks, and legislative reforms to tighten penalties for traffickers. However, according to the Minister, in order to be more effective, the fight against tobacco smuggling requires a comprehensive approach that includes improving economic alternatives for those involved in this illegal activity and the strict enforcement of the law against the main organizers of smuggling.

The Minister of Finance outlined several concrete measures that Albania has undertaken in the fight against tobacco smuggling, which include key aspects such as: strengthening customs and border controls; tightening legislation and penalties; international cooperation, with Albania increasing collaboration with regional countries, the EU, and organizations like Interpol, Europol, and SELEC; as well as raising awareness and educating citizens.

While the challenges remain significant, the minister emphasized that the success of these measures depends on their strict implementation and an ongoing fight against corruption, which could facilitate this phenomenon.

While highlighting the fact that Albania has made significant strides in strengthening the excise system, aligning with European requirements, and improving measures to combat illegal activities in the tobacco market, the minister stated that addressing the challenges requires improving policies, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and fostering closer cooperation between institutions.

“By adopting an integrated inter-institutional approach that includes the tax administration, customs, public health institutions, and state police forces, we aim to foster a balanced environment that ensures fair and secure market stability,” said Malaj. He further stated that the Albanian government, through the approval of the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy and the 2024–2027 Action Plan, as well as the 2025–2027 Economic Reform Program (ERP), has outlined measures to gradually increase excise duties on tobacco products and their by-products, aiming to align with the levels set by EU Directive 2011/64.

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