Albania Advances EU Customs Alignment: Director General Gazheli Meets DG TAXUD in Brussels

 Albania’s path toward European Union membership took another significant step as the country intensifies efforts to align its customs legislation and digital systems with EU standards. The Director General of Albanian Customs, Genti Gazheli, held a high-level meeting in Brussels with Matthias Petschke from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) and a team of EU customs experts.

Gent Gazheli third from the left at DG TAXUD in Grussels

According to official sources, the discussions centered on the implementation roadmap of Chapter 29, a crucial component of Albania’s EU accession negotiations. The talks highlighted Albania’s progress in modernizing customs procedures, strengthening administrative capacities, and introducing advanced digital systems to match the requirements of the European Union.

DG TAXUD representatives praised the achievements of the Albanian Customs Administration, recognizing the reforms already undertaken and the commitment to accelerating integration into the EU single market.

During the meeting, Director Gazheli reiterated Albania’s strong commitment to:

• Harmonizing customs legislation with EU law,

• Boosting administrative and infrastructure capacity,

• Implementing modern digital platforms, including:

  • NCTS (New Computerised Transit System),

  • AES (Automated Export System),

  • AIS (Automated Import System),

  • EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification),

  • TARIC (Integrated Tariff of the European Communities).

These steps represent Albania’s dedication to achieving full customs integration with the European Union, ensuring smoother trade, stronger border control, and enhanced cooperation with EU institutions.

As the accession process advances, the modernization of customs procedures remains a vital milestone, positioning Albania closer to full EU membership.