In this window you will find information on trade between Albania and the European Union and the requirements that Albanian products must meet to be exported to European Union countries and the requirements that must be met by products produced in the EU to be imported into Albania.
Trade regimes between the European Union and Albania are regulated through the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) signed in 2006. The SAA is the main document on which the relationship between Albania and the European Union is based and it is the main instrument for advancing in the EU integration process. The implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement has given its effects on visible changes in the customs and trade regime of Albania with the European Union countries.
The trade regime of Albania has the following main features:
- Customs tariffs applied in Albania are only "ad valorem", unlike the European Union, where customs tariffs are applied in several forms, including ad valorem tariffs, fixed tariffs or combined tariffs.
- Albania is not part of any customs union, while the European Union is a customs union, which includes Turkey for industrial products, and is part of the European Economic Area (EEA), where, in addition to its members, includes EFTA countries.
The European Union is Albania's main partner in international trade. For 2016, trade exchanges with EU countries account for 67.5% of all trade in international trade volumes. Exports to EU countries represent 77.9% of total exports and imports from EU countries account for 63.2% of total imports. The main trading partners are Italy, Germany, and Greece.
The most exported industrial products are fason products, clothing and footwear, minerals and metal articles; while the most exported agricultural products are fish and processed fish products (anchovies), aromatic and medicinal plants, and fresh and processed fruit vegetables.
The most imported industrial products are fuels and minerals, motor vehicles, mechanical and electrical machinery, pharmaceutical and chemical products, textiles, basic metals, footwear and textiles, construction materials, etc; while the most imported agricultural and food products are beverages, cereal preparations, cigarettes, fish products, fruits and vegetables, etc.
Customs duties on imports into Albania of industrial goods originating in the Community are abrogated with the entry into force of the SAA and the rest (according to Annex I); are gradually reduced and canceled 5 years after the entry into force of the SAA. The quantitative restrictions on imports into Albania of goods originating in the EU and measures having equivalent effect are abrogated on the date of entry into force of the SAA.
Albania shall abolish the customs duties applicable to imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community listed in Annex II (a) with the entry into force of the SAA; progressively reduces the customs duties on imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community listed in Annex II (b) in accordance with the calendar indicated for each product in that Annex; abolishes customs duties on imports of certain agricultural products originating in the Community listed in Annex II (c) within the ceiling of the tariff quota for the products concerned.
For more information about the trade regime between the EU and Albania consult the Stabilization and Association Agreement http://shtetiweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Marreveshja_e_Stabilizim-Asocijimit.pdf, or http://www.dogana.gov.al/d/182/249/0/263/marreveshjet-e-tregtise-se-lire.
For more information on the regulatory requirements of exporting products to the European Union, follow the steps below:
- Click the link below: (read carefully steps 2-4 before clicking) http://www.exporthelp.europa.eu/thdapp/display.htmpage=form%2fform_MyExport.html&docType=main&languageId=en.
- Insert the “Product Code” you want to export. If you do not know the code, click on "Find My Product Code".
- In "Country of Origin", choose Albania and at "Destination Country", insert one of the EU countries.
Now you are in the area of your interest!
- Click on "Requirements" in order tolearn the regulatory requirements of exporting the product to the European Union.
- Click on "Tariffs" in order tolearn the tariffs and other payments of export of the product to the European Union.
The Guideline : How to export to the European Union? Sportel of Exports to the European Union informs in a simple way, step by step, how to consult regulatory requirements and other fees and charges.
Fruits and vegetables are important export products to the European Union. Detailed information on the regulatory requirements for export of fruit and vegetables can be found at "The European Union's Legal Requirements for the Import of Fruits and Vegetables", and "Guidelines on Quality Market Demand for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters from Third Countries".
To know the level of customs tariffs and documentary and regulatory requirements for import of products into Albania from EU countries, follow the steps below.
- Click the link below: http://madb.europa.eu/madb/indexPubli.htm.
- In "Country", select Albania in any case.
- In "Product code" enter the product code you want to import into Albania. If you do not know the code, click on "Find my product Code".
- Click on "Applied Tariffs" to learn about the fees and other import product payments in Albania.
Click on "Import Formalities" to learn the documentary and regulatory import product requirements in Albania.
The Stabilization and Association Agreement regulates the preferential trade between Albania and the countries of the European Union. The agreement can be consulted in: http://shtetiweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Marreveshja_e_Stabilizim-Asocijimit.pdf, or http://www.dogana.gov.al/d/182/249/0/263/marrëveshjet-e-tregtisë-së-lirë
