Albanian Customs hosts the first official meeting of the CEFTA Advisory Body for Customs Cooperation on Tariff Classification and Rules of Origin in Tirana (Published on 29/10/2025)

The Albanian Customs Administration hosted in Tirana the first official meeting of the CEFTA Advisory Body for Customs Cooperation on Tariff Classification and Rules of Origin, with the participation of representatives from DG TAXUD of the European Commission and all CEFTA Parties.

In his opening remarks, Director General of Albanian Customs, Mr. Genti Gazheli, expressed his pleasure to welcome all participants to Tirana and highlighted the significance of this milestone for strengthening regional cooperation and advancing alignment with EU customs standards.

“I am proud that, during Albania’s Chairmanship of the CEFTA Subcommittee on Customs and Rules of Origin, one of the key achievements has been the establishment of this Advisory Body, which will serve to strengthen cooperation among CEFTA Parties and create a more predictable environment for trade in goods,” – stated Mr. Gazheli.

Mr. Gazheli also extended his sincere appreciation to DG TAXUD experts Mr. Karel De Greve and Mr. Antonio Blanco for their strong and continued support, not only to this meeting but to the broader cooperation with CEFTA.
He underlined that this Advisory Body will serve as a platform for consultation and dispute prevention on tariff classification and rules of origin, fostering practical dialogue and constructive solutions to technical customs issues.

The meeting in Tirana marked the successful conclusion of Albania’s Chairmanship of the CEFTA Subcommittee on Customs and Rules of Origin, during which the Albanian Customs Administration has led several key initiatives, including:

the implementation of the new Rules of Origin under the Revised PEM Convention, which entered into force on 1 January 2025;
progress in the mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programmes;
enhanced customs cooperation in the field of e-commerce;
further development of the SEED+ system for real-time customs data exchange;
and the expansion of Green Lanes for faster and more efficient movement of goods across CEFTA and EU borders.
Discussions also focused on the preparation of the 2026 Work Programme, aligned with the objectives of the Common Regional Market (CRM 2.0), aiming to further simplify and harmonize customs procedures, reduce border delays, and facilitate smoother trade flows across the region.

In closing, Albanian Customs reaffirmed its continued commitment to supporting CEFTA’s priorities and contributing to regional integration efforts in line with EU and international customs standards.