EC: Albania positive progress, triple exports with EU

Albanian exports to the EU have tripled, and the overall trade volume with the EU has doubled following the entry into force of the MAS trade section in December 2006.

The 9th Subcommittee on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxments between the EU and Albania took place in Brussels yesterday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Georg Ziegler, Deputy Head of the Unit for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Albania's Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of European Policy.

The meeting offered an opportunity to assess the progress achieved by Albania during the past year, especially in terms of the approach of national legislation with the EU's respective acquis. Albanian representatives informed of achievements on eliminating measures with equal impacts on quantitative restrictions to ensure free movement of goods, measures to facilitate tax procedures and the latest legislative developments in the customs field.

Furthermore, the Albanian side offered recent trade statistics as well as information concerning ongoing negotiations on trade agreements with third countries, presented an update on industrial policies, including support for small and medium enterprises (SME) and briefed on measures to improve the business environment in line with Albania's commitments under the Economic Reform Programme (ERP). Also, it offered an update on the latest legislative initiatives in the area of tourism.

The Commission positively assessed the fact that Albanian exports to the EU have tripled, and the overall trade volume with the EU has doubled after the entry into force of the MAS trade share in December 2006. The Commission welcomed measures to bring about legislation with the acquis for free movement of goods and actions aimed at reducing tax evasion and fighting the grey economy. He encouraged Albania to provide full equipment for the Market Supervisor Inspectorate. Furthermore, the Commission welcomed the adoption of the CEFTA Hospital Protocol 5 and expects its implementation without problems.

Also, the Commission gladly noted that the Albanian government is establishing a mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of the Regional Economic Zone (REA). In this context, the Commission encouraged Albania to engage with CEFTA partners to ensure that the CEFTA Secretariat is fully equipped with a revised mandate, personnel and a draft budget. As for industry policies, the Commission underlined the work done by the Albanian side to stimulate participation in COME programmes and invited Albania to strengthen its efforts to boost calls for proposals. For tourism, the Commission welcomed developments in relevant legislation, in particular the tourism package, and encouraged Albanian authorities to continue with the approval of the Tourism Strategy.