Italy and Albania Strengthen Customs Cooperation

The Director of the Customs and Monopolies Agency, Roberto Alesse, and the Commander General of the Guardia di Finanza, Andrea De Gennaro, met in Rome with the Director of the Albanian Customs Administration, Genti Gazheli, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the field of customs. Building on activities initiated through bilateral agreements for mutual assistance, information exchange, and administrative cooperation signed in 1998, 2003, and 2022 respectively, it has been decided to intensify joint efforts to ensure legality and security in cross-border commercial activities.

A primary commitment will be directed towards evaluating the necessary updates to existing agreements, with the aim of aligning Albanian customs with European standards in terms of controls and anti-fraud measures. The three administrations have also decided to initiate the exchange of experiences and training activities between the ports of Ancona, Bari, and Brindisi, and the Albanian ports of Durres and Vlora. These initiatives will be funded, in part, through the funds of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) under the Adriacustoms union program.

The Guardia di Finanza, with a 25-year mission in Albania to cooperate in the fight against illicit traffic through the sea, will strengthen its initiatives in the customs sector with the assistance of its expert stationed at the Embassy in Tirana.

The synergy between ADM and the Guardia di Finanza is facilitated by the memorandum of understanding signed last April.