Albania presents CEFTA 2026 priorities/ Ibrahimaj: Focus on barrier-free trade and integration with the EU
At a key moment for Albania’s European integration process, the Albanian government has presented its priorities at the helm of CEFTA for 2026, focusing on facilitating regional trade and gradual rapprochement with the European Single Market. Speaking from Brussels, the Minister of Economy and Innovation, Delina Ibrahimaj, stated that Albania aims for a more economically interconnected region, with fewer border barriers and more digital integration.
During the Ministerial Meeting on CEFTA 2026 priorities, Ibrahimaj emphasized that Albania enters this mandate at a positive moment for negotiations with the European Union, following the confirmation of the fulfillment of the intermediate standards for the “Fundamentals” Cluster. According to her, this development paves the way for further advancement of technical negotiations, including Chapter 30 related to international trade.
The focus of the Albanian CEFTA Chairmanship will be on reducing waiting times at the border, advancing digital infrastructure, harmonizing with European Union standards, and strengthening institutional coordination between countries in the region.
Minister Ibrahimaj also praised the importance of initiatives such as SEED+ and Green Lanes, which aim to accelerate the movement of goods at border points. Another objective presented was the harmonization of working hours at customs and the possibility of 24-hour operation at several strategic border points.
Albania also reaffirmed support for the mutual recognition of electronic signatures and seals, as well as product testing results, measures that aim to reduce physical documentation and increase digital transactions in the region.
In the context of regional economic integration, Minister Ibrahimaj also underlined the importance of recognizing professional qualifications as a way to facilitate the free movement of labor and create more economic opportunities for the citizens of the Western Balkans.
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