Albania holds the 16th Meeting of the EU-Albania Subcommittee on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation
The 16th Meeting of the EU-Albania Subcommittee on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation, an important mechanism in the process of assessing Albania's progress under Chapter 29 - Customs Union, took place yesterday in Tirana. The meeting was opened by the Director General of Customs, Mr. Genti Gazheli, who stressed that this dialogue remains the main point of cooperation with the European Commission, where achievements are assessed, challenges are addressed and priorities are defined that guide the customs administration on the path towards EU membership.
In his speech, the Director General underlined that Albanian Customs has worked intensively over the last year in full coordination with DG TAXUD, respecting all deadlines and submitting the required documentation for all four closing criteria of Chapter 29. He noted the progress achieved in legal approximation with the EU acquis, the preparation of the legislative calendar and supporting documents for the harmonization of the national framework with the Union Customs Code.
An important part of the discussions was dedicated to the digitalization process. The Albanian delegation informed the European Commission about the finalization of the Multiannual IT Strategy and the detailed Action Plan, documents that set out the steps to ensure full electronic interoperability with EU customs systems from the first day of accession.
Next, developments in regional and international projects, such as CEFTA and SEED+, were discussed, as well as the progress of the accession process to the Protocol of the WHO Convention on Tobacco Control, which is expected to enter into force for Albania in 2026. Measures to facilitate trade, improve procedures and strengthen risk management were also highlighted.
The European Commission representatives appreciated the significant progress of the Albanian customs administration in modernising systems, aligning with the acquis, increasing capacities and cross-border cooperation. The parties concluded the meeting by agreeing on the priorities for the next phase, including the finalisation of the alignment process and the implementation of the new customs systems.
The General Directorate of Customs reaffirmed its commitment to continue with structural reforms and modernization of services, with the aim of bringing citizens and businesses closer to European standards and fulfilling Albania's objectives in the European Union accession process.
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