Technical Meeting Albania–Greece on Advancing the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Customs Field

Tirana, 02.04.2026 – The Albanian Customs Administration held a bilateral technical meeting in Athens with the Greek side, within the framework of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between Albania and Greece. The meeting was organized at the headquarters of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (IAPR), with the participation of representatives from the customs administrations of both countries and the CEFTA Secretariat, as a continuation of cooperation established under the “Green Lanes” initiative.

The focus of the discussions was the advancement of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding finalized in December 2025, which provides for the prior exchange of data between the parties with the aim of accelerating customs procedures and facilitating the movement of goods.

During the meeting, issues addressed included:
• the current status of the implementation of the agreement and its objectives;
• operational procedures and processes for data exchange;
• the use of the SEED system from the perspective of implementation and customs control;
• the integration of IT systems and the interconnection of interinstitutional communication;
• the operational use of SEED in local customs offices, including border crossing points.

The parties also discussed further steps and concrete actions to continue the implementation of the agreement, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of controls, strengthening technical cooperation, and improving facilitation for cross-border trade.

Albanian and Greek customs authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels in December last year for the establishment of green corridors, aiming to facilitate the movement of goods and accelerate customs procedures at border crossing points between the two countries. The Memorandum is part of the European “Green Lanes” initiative, which aims to simplify and accelerate border controls, reduce waiting times, and facilitate trade flows between the European Union and Western Balkan countries through increased coordination and data exchange among customs administrations.

This agreement represents a concrete step towards modernizing customs cooperation between Albania and Greece, accelerating border procedures and aligning them with European standards, in support of Albania’s European Union integration process.