Albanian Commission for the European Integration ratified on December 10 the agreement reached between the Albanian government and the European Union on June 2014 regarding the participation of Albania in the “Customs 2020” EU program.
According to the vice General Director of Albanian Customs, Blerta Kraja this agreement provides a periodical financial obligation with an increasing progression. The agreement foresees that 45 thousand EUR will be given to Albania in 2014 and this amount of money will increase to 75 thousand EUR in 2020.
The settlement will allow Albanian representatives to participate in all events and activities that the EU will hold related to Customs. Kraja declared that the role of Albania in these events will depend upon the type of an event. “Sometimes we will play the role of an observer, in other occasions we will be active,” declared Kraja. The EU project aims to intensify collaboration with participating states in the creation of a joint market and IT systems.
Kraja added that the participation of Albania in this project will help the Albanian Customs to be at the same development level and similar standards with other EU countries’ customs related to human resources, information technology and other features. This will ease the legal trade and we will no longer be a barrier to the international trade, said Kraja.
The project aims to support customs’ authorities of participating states regarding the protection of financial and economic interests, the war against frauds and the protection of intellectual property, the increase of security in customs’ procedures and other key objectives.
News source/photo credits: ATA
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