Beja: Customs Code aligned with European legislation, we await agreement from the EU
The Director General of Customs, Besmir Beja, stated today that the Albanian customs administration is at the forefront of integration processes with the European Union, while emphasizing that Albania aims to conclude the negotiation chapters that are currently open within 2027.
In response to a question from journalists, at the press conference attended by the Minister of Finance, Petrit Malaj, and the Director General of Taxes, Ilir Binaj, Beja stated that, after membership, Albanian customs will also be the final entry or exit point for European Union countries.
"We are on the right track to close the chapters we are in by 2027. Albanian customs are at the forefront of integration processes. Albania will be a border country of the EU and Albanian customs will be the customs of the entire European Union," he said.
According to Beja, within the framework of Chapter 29 Customs Union, Albania must fulfill four main points: approximation of legislation with that of the EU, modernization of information technology systems, strengthening institutional and administrative capacities, and implementation of the protocol for the elimination of illicit trade in tobacco products.
Beja announced that the process of accession to the WHO protocol on tobacco products has already been completed, while the full approximation of the customs code with European legislation has also been achieved.
"The approximated Customs Code has been sent to the European Union services and we await agreement, so that it can be approved by the Parliament within September. The sub-legal acts implementing the code have also been approved and the implementing provisions will then be approved, completing the full approximation of customs legislation with that of the EU," said Beja.
Speaking about information technology, the Director General of Customs said that Albania is advancing rapidly in the modernization of customs systems.
"Every customs procedure is carried out through digital systems. To this end, we have signed an agreement with UNCTAD for the development of a new customs system, which will be fully aligned with the requirements of the European Union and will also rely on artificial intelligence," he stated.
Beja added that, although the deadline for completing the systems is 2030, the Albanian customs administration aims to achieve these objectives earlier.
Regarding administrative capacities, he announced that in March a monitoring mission of the European Commission and member states assessed the ability of the Albanian customs administration to implement European legislation and to function as an entry and exit point of the EU's external border.
One of the main reforms, according to Beja, is the reorganization of the customs administration, with the aim of changing the way it operates.
"We want customs not to focus only on border control, but to maximally facilitate customs procedures for business and for controls to be increasingly shifted after customs clearance, according to the best practices of the European Union," concluded Beja.
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