WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
29 February 2024 
(24-1924) Page: 1/55 
Trade Policy Review Body  
22 and 24 November 2023  Original: English/Spanish  
anglais/espagnol  
inglés/español  
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
ALBANIA  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Addendum  
Chairperson: H.E. Mr Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom  of Saudi  Arabia ) 
This document contains the advance written questions and additional questions by 
WTO Members, and replies provided by  Albania .1 
 
 
Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales  
22 et 24 novembre 2023  
EXAMEN DES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES  
ALBANIE  
COMPTE RENDU DE LA RÉUNION  
Addendum  
Président : S.E.  M. Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Royaume d'Arabie saoudite)  
Le présent document contient les questions écrites communiquées à l'avance par les Membres 
de l'OMC, leurs questions additionnelles, et les réponses fournies par  Albanie .1 
 
 
Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales  
22 y 24 de noviembre de 2023  
EXAMEN DE LAS POLÍTICAS COMERCIALES  
ALBANIA  
ACTA DE LA REUNIÓN  
Addendum  
Presidente: Excmo.  Sr. Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Reino de la Arabia Saudita)  
En el presente documento figuran las preguntas presentadas anticipadamente por escrito y  las 
preguntas adicionales de los Miembros de la OMC, así como las respuestas facilitadas por  Albania .1 
  
 
1 In English and Spanish only./En anglais et espagnol seulement./En inglés y español solamente.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
ARGENTINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
BRAZIL  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  6 
CHINA  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  7 
EUROPEAN UNION  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 10 
JAPAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  25 
SINGAPORE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  28 
TÜRKİYE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................  31 
UKRAINE  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  41 
UNITED  KINGDOM  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 45 
UNITED  STATES  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  50 
 
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  ARGENTINA  
Documento WT/TPR/S/449:  
En el párrafo 2.15, el informe describe la participación y contribución de Albania en las diversas 
actividades de la OMC.  
 
Pregunta N° 1  
Es de interés de Argentina conocer cuáles son las prioridades y/o aspiraciones de Albania 
de cara a la XIII Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC a llevarse adelante en 2024.  
 
Answer:  Albania took part at the Senior Officials Meeting that took place in Geneva, during 
23 and 24  October  2023, for the preparation of MC13, to be held in Februar y 2024.  
 
During that meeting, Albania deposited the acceptance document for the Agreement on 
Fisheries Subsidies. Albania is interested in  two outcomes at MC13: the conclusion of the 
second phase of negotiations (Fish  2) and the entry into force of the Agr eement on Fisheries 
Subsidies – which are firmly on track.  
 
Albania has followed the negotiations for the agreement on Investment Facilitation for 
Development and is interested on its adaption at MC 13.  
 
Also, we are pleased to see positive steps at WTO Reforms.  
 
En el ítem 3.26, el informe indica que, El promedio aritmético de las líneas arancelarias 
correspondientes a productos agropecuarios (según la definición de la OMC) fue del 8,7% en 2023, 
frente a un promedio inferior de las líneas arancelarias correspondientes a productos no 
agropecuarios, del 2,8%.  
 
Pregunta N° 2  
Es de interés de Argentina saber si planea Albania reducir los elevados aranceles que se 
registran en el sector agrícola.  
 
Answer: Albania is in the process of accession a t EU. At the moment of EU accession, Albania 
will apply the EU Common Trade Police and every policy regarding tariffs will be in line with 
EU. Albanian will not autonomously lower any duty until EU accession.  
 
En el inciso 3.28 del informe, se explica que,  en el caso de 24 líneas arancelarias, los tipos aplicados 
son superiores a los tipos consolidados (cuadro 3.4). En el examen anterior se constató que, en el 
caso de 14 líneas arancelarias, los tipos arancelarios aplicados eran superiores a los tipos 
conso lidados y, para 13 de ellas, los tipos aplicados siguen siendo superiores a los tipos consolidados 
después de que se hayan fusionado 3 líneas en una sola.  
 
Pregunta N° 3  
Es de interés de Argentina saber por qué motivo se tiene lugar esta discrepancia entre los 
aranceles consolidados y los aplicados y que acciones ha tomado Albania para resolver la 
misma.  
 
Answer:  Regarding the concern raised by members on the difference between MFN rate and 
the bound rate for few tariff lines, Albania conf irms this fact and we would like to clarify all 
WTO members that this difference is due to the correlations and changes in the tariff 
classification. There is no intention by Albania to be in breach with WTO schedule of 
commitments. We remain fully committ ed to respect our commitments undertaken under 
WTO.  
 
En el inciso 3.53, el informe explica que, según las autoridades, los programas de ayuda estatal son 
en su mayoría de volumen relativamente pequeño. En 2020 la SAC aprobó nuevos programas de 
ayuda estata l para apoyar a empresas "verdes" en Tirana, y en 2022 para apoyar a empresas de 
nueva creación en toda Albania; estos programas son aplicados por el Ministro de Estado de 
Protección del Espíritu de Empresa.  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Pregunta N° 4  
Es de interés de la Argentina con ocer con mayor detalle los programas de incentivos a las 
"empresas verdes".  
 
Answer:  
Project title:  "Financial support (Grant) for new "green" businesses that are based on an 
eco-friendly model, or existing businesses that try to transform into "green" businesses by 
introducing go -green elements into them ". 
 
Project purpose : to stimulate and motivate en trepreneurs to start new businesses that are 
environmentally friendly, designed to increase environmental sustainability, or to develop 
businesses that are aware of their impact on the environment and take steps not only to 
mitigate the harm caused by thei r production methods, but to work actively towards a greener 
planet.  
 
This scheme is designed to serve small businesses and generally start -ups in the city of Tirana.  
 
This financial scheme supports new or existing green businesses, for a period of no more  than 
one year and up to 500,000 (five hundred thousand) ALL/business.  
 
The scheme will reimburse approved costs in accordance with the following guidelines:  
- The scheme covers 80% of eligible costs for new enterprises and existing, the rest will 
be financ ed by its beneficiary;  
- The applicant must offer a financial contribution equal to at least 20% of the funded grant 
wanted;  
- Payment of the received grant is 50% at the beginning of the project upon submission of 
a copy of the certificate of NIPT (both for n ew and existing businesses) and 50% at the 
end of the project, against tax invoice(s) with VAT, which certify(s) incurred expenses 
and other supporting documents which will be submitted at the end of the project;  
 
Eligible expenses:  
1. the purchase of mate rials for furnishing or arranging the premises/buildings for the 
business;  
2. the purchase of machinery, tools and equipment, as well as software and other intangible 
assets that will serve to diversify production with new additional green products or a r adical 
change in the general production process of these products;  
3. the expenses for other intangible assets (licensing, branding and patenting of products);  
4. the expenses for creating a website and publishing or advertising activities only for the fir st 
6 (six) months and this expenses cannot exceed more than 10% of the total grant (both 
for new and existing economic units);  
5. salaries and insurance will be covered only for employees directly related to the production 
process of green products, up to 3 months after the start of the business, based on the 
minimum salary in Albania (the rest of the salary must be covered by the business itself).  
 
This financial scheme has been applied by the Municipality of Tirana for the years 2021 -2023.  
74 new and exis ting businesses  have been supported.  
 
For more details: https://tirana.al/kategori/grante  
 
En el punto 3.55 se explica que, el AIDA presta apoyo a las mipymes  y los productos albaneses por 
medio de la campaña "Hecho en Albania", iniciada en julio de 2020. En mayo de 2023 se habían 
seleccionado 248 productos nacionales. Estos productos se present an en el sitio web del AIDA, se 
promocionan en las redes sociales y, en su mayoría, han sido incluidos en uno de los tres catálogos 
publicados.  
 
Pregunta N° 5  
Es de interés de la Argentina conocer en qué consiste la ayuda y cuáles son los criterios 
para la selección de productos dentro del programa mencionado.  
 
Answer:  This campaign is dedicated to showcasing the products of Albanian companies, all 
proudly crafted within Albania —from the inception of the simplest components to the 
completio n of the final products. Our promotional efforts extend beyond our website and social WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  media channels; we actively strive to enhance their visibility in international markets by 
participating in various global exhibitions. Additionally, we facilitate meanin gful engagement 
through sector -specific roundtable discussions, allowing us to gain insights into the challenges 
faced by these companies and address their needs. Complementing these initiatives is our 
B2B platform, where we meticulously curate profiles fo r each company, fostering connections 
with interested parties and facilitating valuable partnerships.  
 
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  BRAZIL  
1. What is the procedure and average time for official responses from Albania to requests 
from third countries regarding the update of sanitary cer tificates for products of animal 
origin?  
Answer:  Albania does not have a set deadline regarding the updating of veterinary 
certificates, as against all countries where Albania exports products of animal origin, the 
answer corresponds to the time needed by each competent authority, according to priorities 
and the time needed to review and add the language of the respective countries in the model 
of the certificate, as well as to evaluate the attestation of the model of the veterinary certificate 
according to the models defined in the legislation in force, except in cases where Albania has 
an agreement in force.  
In cases where Albania has an agreement, the review of veterinary certificates takes time, as 
the agreements with which these veterinary cer tificates are in force must be reviewed.  
2. If there is a pending or denied request for the habitation of an establishment, what is 
the procedure adopted by Albanian authorities to inform the country of origin of this 
establishment? What is the expected perio d of time for this kind of communication?  
Answer:  In its legislation, Albania does not have a procedure for approving establishments 
that export animal products to Albania, since Albania imports from establishments that are 
allowed to export to the EU, exc ept in cases where there is an agreement. In this case, an 
official response was sent to the Brazilian authorities, making this Albanian standard known.  
3. What is the procedure for habilitating establishments to export to Albania, after the 
fulfilment of all  the steps of the expected approval procedures?  
4. What is the expected period for including foreign establishments in the list of 
establishments able to export to Albania?  
Answer:  For questions 4 and 3, please refer at the answer given in question 2 above.  
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  CHINA  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE Secretariat Report  
 
Page 43, Para 3.62, 3.63  
 
"Standards are developed and approved by the DPS, with inputs from relevant stakeholders and 
from public consultations. Based on proposals by the technical committees at DPS, a Technical Board 
approves new standards to be developed in a work programme. Draft standards are published for 
comments, before being finalized by a relevant technical committee at DPS, composed of various 
stakeholders.  
 
Once adopted, Albanian Standards are published on the website of the DPS and in the National 
Standards Catalogue. Since 2016, around 13,000 European Standards and 4,500 international 
standards have been adopted as national standards. According to the authoritie s, of the nearly 
40,000 Albanian Standards adopted, more than 90% are aligned with European Standards ". 
 
Question:  
1. Does Albania publish its proposals by the technical committees on a semi -annual basis?  
 
Answer:  With the approval of the Decision of Council of Ministers (DCM) no.382/2018 "On 
standardization activities", as amended by the DCM 673/2021 "On some changes and 
amendments on the DCM 382/2018" Albania does publish its standards work programme  as 
being proposed by the technical committees on a yearly basis.  
 
Which standards of the International Organization for Standardization does Albania 
adopt?  
 
Answer:  Albania adopts all standards published by the International Organization for 
Standardization (ISO).  
 
How many standards are aligned with international standards?  
 
Answer:  All adopted standards are aligned with international standards. The adoption is 
mainly done by coverpage method and without a deviation of the text of the international 
standards.  
 
Page 45, Para 3.80  
 
"...Albania is a memb er of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Organisation for Animal 
Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization 
(EPPO), and a contracting party to the IPPC. It has also signed three regional phytosanitar y 
cooperation agreements between 2018 and 2022 ". 
 
Question:  
2. Please provide the share of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World 
Organisation for Animal Health, or the IPPC  standards in the SPS field adopted by 
Albania.  
 
Answer:  Phytosanitary measures before shipment from the exporting country and 
phytosanitary import requirements regarding plants, plant products and other objects are 
defined in:  
 
Order of the minister of Mo ARD No.  113, dated 15  March  2022 , for the approval of the 
regulation " On protective measures against plant pests ", amended. This order is 
aligned  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072 of 28  November  2019 
establishing uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 of the 
European Parliament and the Council, as regards protective measures against pests of plants, 
and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 690/2008 and amending Commission 
Implementing Reg ulation (EU) 2018/2019.  
This order also defines the list of quarantine pests and non -quarantine pests regulated for 
Albania.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Ordinance of the minister of MoARD No.  16, dated 19  October  2022  "On regulations 
for specific control measures to prevent the entry  and spread of Xylella fastidiosa  (Wells et al) 
within the country. (OJ  2022-141). This ordinance is aligned with omission Implementing 
Regulation  (EU) 2020/1201 of 14  August  2020 as regards measures to prevent the 
introduction into and the spread within t he Union of Xylella fastidiosa  (Wells et al.).  
 
Regulation of wood packaging material  
 
All Wood Packaging Material must be heat treated or fumigated as well as marked in line 
with the procedure defined in International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 15 . 
 
These requirements do not apply to: 
 
- wood 6  mm thick or less;  
- wood packaging material made entirely from processed wood produced using glue, heat and  
pressure e.g. plywood, oriented strand board and veneer.  
 
Page 58, Para 4.3  
"During the review period, the total production in value of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 
increased from ALL 407 billion in 2016 to ALL  441 billion in 2020 and ALL  474 billion in 2021. In 
volume terms, the production of field crops grew overall, with cereals broadly unchanged 
(691,000  tonnes in 2021), vegetables growing by around 20% to 1.34 million tonnes, a nd forage 
plants growing by around 15% to 7.1  million  tonnes. The production of permanent crops also 
increased, dominated by fruit trees (287,000  tonnes), grapes (212,000  tonnes), and olives 
(110,000  tonnes). The production volume of meat and meat products  declined marginally while the 
production of fishery products increased by nearly 50%, particularly as aquaculture production more 
than doubled. Wood production remains dominated by firewood (nearly 900,000  m3 in 2021) ". 
 
Question:  
3. Please explain why the p roduction of  fishery products , particularly as aquaculture 
production  increased significantly.  
 
Answer:  
Over the past decade, the aquaculture industry in Albania has experienced remarkable and 
consistent growth, increasing from a modest production of 2,500  tonnes in 2012 to an 
impressive 7,985.6  tonnes in 2022. The remarkable increase of the Albanian aquaculture 
production begun during the year 2017 when output increased by nearly 30% from 
4,000  tonnes to 5,138  tonnes in the year 2018, attributed to factors  such as increased 
investments, the establishment of new aquaculture farms, adoption of advanced technologies, 
and improved export capabilities. A significant portion of Albania's aquaculture products is 
exported to the European  Union , driving operators to  obtain international food quality 
certificates like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friend of the Sea. These 
certifications, also applied in the fish processing industry, underscore Albania's commitment 
to maintaining high standards in the sector . 
 
Page 60, Para 4.1  
Table  4.1 Disbursements under the National Agricultural Support Scheme, 2017 -23 
 
Question:  
4. Please explain why fuel subsidy and livestock support increased significantly.  
 
Answer:  
This increase in this scheme has come as a result of the current conditions faced by the 
Albanian farmer (increased competitiveness, increased prices of agricultural inputs, great 
support for farmers from other countries, etc.), the approximation of direct schemes with the 
EU, as well as the increasing deman ds of Albanian exports, as one of the main policies of the 
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Likewise, the decrease in the number of heads 
and livestock production has led to taking measures for the implementation of supporting 
policies for th e livestock sector, starting the process of transitioning to direct payments per 
head of cattle.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
 
Page 17, Para 3.40  
"During 2016 -22, agriculture has undergone important developments. The Policy of the Alb anian 
Government for Agriculture includes: 1)  continuation of improving the quality of life in rural areas 
and diversification of spaces and opportunities for economic activities; 2)  promoting the balancing 
of differences in living standards between urban and rural areas, with continuous investments in 
rural public infrastructure in the service of the economic activities of actors in the agricultural sector; 
3) increasing exports of agricultural and fishing products and increasing the added value in the 
country; 4)  sustainable development of rural tourism and agro  tourism; and 5)  increased support 
for agriculture, livestock and rural development ". 
 
Question:  
5. Please elaborate on new measures the Albanian Government has taken to increase its 
exports of agricultural and fishing products.  
 
Answer:  Support schemes contribute to:  
• increase the competitiveness (by reducing the production costs) of agricultural products 
(especially greenhouse production) through payments of cultivated areas;  
• promote sustainable agricultural practices (such as the support for the certification of 
agricultural products and organic farms;  
• reduce informality in the agricultural sector;  
• improve market access to small farmers through construction of municipal agricultural 
markets;  
• reduce the cost of mechanized works on agricultural crops through providing the farmers 
with oil (diesel).  
 
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  EUROPEAN UNION  
Paragraph 14, page 7:  "E-commerce in Albania is growing fast and is seen as a key growth 
opportunity, but penetration still  lags that of other economies in the region. Electronic signatures 
have full legal effect, consumer protection was reinforced during the review period, a legal 
framework for the protection of personal data is in place, small parcels arriving in Albania are  not 
subject to import duties, and a simplified procedure for small non -commercial shipments is in place."  
 
EU Question 1:  Could Albania please describe the simplified procedure for small 
non-commercial shipments? Is there also a simplified procedure for commercial small 
shipments?  
 
Answer:  Since 2018, postal operators use a simplified form of declaration for postal 
shipments and at the end of the day they compile a standard customs declaration. For this, 
the Customs Administration has also a pproved an instruction, No. 02 dated  15 January  2018 
"On the implementation of procedures for declaration and release into free circulation of 
personal goods of a non -commercial nature received as postal deliveries or online purchases" 
by individuals throu gh postal operators". This instruction is published on the official website 
of the Albanian Customs Administration according to the link 
https://www.dogana.gov.al/dokument/1549/udhezim -nr02-date-15012018 -si-dhe-manuali -
per-vendosjen -ne-qarkullim -te-lire-te-dergesave -postare -dhe-blerjeve -online -nga-individet . 
 
The Albanian  customs  administration,  in the framework  of facilitating  and simplifying  customs  
procedures  and the movement  of postal  goods,  is developing  a new express  mail module.  
 
This module  is being  developed  for the possibility  of using  electronic  advanced  data 
(EAD-Electronic  Advanced  Data).  Electronic  exchange  of data between  postal  operators  and 
the Customs  Authority  is necessary  starting  from the collection  of revenues,  the best possible  
risk management,  as well as the speed  of distribution  of shipments.  
ACA in cooperation  with UNCTAD  is developing  this module  and based  on the customs  
legislation  is looking  at the possibility  of using  the simplified  declaration  form.  
 
The Customs  Administration  in cooperation  with express  post operators  is carrying  out tests 
regarding  the pre-arrival  declaration  module.  
 
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME  
2.4.1 Regulatory framework  
 
Paragraphs 2.30 to 2.33, page 25:  "According to Law No.  9901/2008, companies can be established 
as partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, or joint -stock companies. 
Companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs, must register with the National Business 
Center  (NBC)28, under the Ministry of Finance and Economy, according to Law  No. 9723/2007 (as 
amended). Since 2020, registration can be made only electronically via the e -Albania portal, with 
data in the publicly accessible company registry only stored in electronic  format. Companies have 
been able to apply for licenses and permits issued by the NBC (or jointly with the NBC) only via the 
e-Albania portal since 2020, and information on all issued licenses and permits is published on the 
NBC website. Since May 2022, li censes and permits have also been issued electronically, removing 
all physical interaction between businesses and regulators, according to the authorities. All other 
business interactions with the NBC also have to be done via the e -Albania portal, with the  NBC 
offering 183 services online relating to licenses, as well as services related to the commercial register 
or the register of beneficial owners. The electronic provision and delivery of public services increased 
significantly during the review period, as additional services continue to be added to the e -Albania 
portal, administered by the National Agency for Information Society. According to the authorities, 
these account for about 95% of all services offered, and they are offered exclusively online. " 
EU question 2 : Many services pertaining to the licensing and permitting requirements for 
businesses in Albania have been digitalized. What are the practical implications for the 
periods of processing online submissions?  
Answer:  All National Business Center (NBC)'s services for equipment with permission/license, 
changes, revocations, appeals, title printing, issue tracking, are done only through the 
e-albania portal.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  NBC, for documents that meet the permission/licensing criteria, which are issued by the stat e 
administration, for all types of permission/licenses, provides them by operating in the 
dedicated electronic system (SQDNE), shortening the time for collecting documents.  
The time for processing a request through the platform (SQDNE) is three working day s, for all 
documents issued by the state administration. Meanwhile, the NBC has also prepared legal 
changes to its legislation, with the aim of facilitating licensing procedures, reducing the cost 
of receiving the service, improving the transparency and qu ality of online service provision.  
 
2.5 E -commerce  
Paragraph 2.42, page 27:  "The Government sees e -commerce as a sector benefiting from the June 
2020 National Masterplan for the Sustainable Development of Digital Infrastructure for Broadband 
(Section  4.3.2) as well as the digital objectives and policy orientations of the SKZHIE  III. An 
inter-institutional working group established in July  2022 by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, 
with the participation of the private sector, prepared a first draft of an e-commerce action plan ". 
 
EU Question 3:  Could Albania please give some details about the first draft of the e -
commerce action plan?  
 
Answer:  The drafting and approval of the document of the Action Plan for the Facilitation and 
Development of Electronic Commerce is at the final stage. The document was extensively 
consulted with the members of the group established for the drafting of this plan.  
 
The Action Plan for the Facilitation and Development of Electronic Commerce has been 
conceived divid ed into several sections, where the activities and measures to be taken are 
identified for each of them.  
 
Section  1. Enabling Electronic Commerce  
• Facilitating Electronic Transactions  
• Digital trade facilitation and logistics  
 
Section  2: Openness and electro nic commerce  
• Customs duties on electronic transmissions  
 
Section  3 Trust and Electronic Commerce  
• Consumer protection  
• Privacy  
• Business Trust  
• Cybersecurity  
• Free movement of Services  
 
Section  4. Cross - cutting issues / Intersectoral  
• Infrastructure and Courier service  
• Upgrading private sector capabilities and skills  
• Online Payments  
• E commerce Statistics  
• Fighting informality  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  
 
Paragraph 3.3,  page 29:  "Customs legislation is published on the Customs website, with secondary 
legislation published often only in Albanian and as PDFs, and the English version did not always seem 
fully up to date. The website also contains MFN and preferential tariff s for all products, but it does 
not contain detailed information on other requirements by product ". 
EU question 4:  Could Albania please clarify whether it intends to publish more information 
regarding the secondary customs legislation in English and ensure  that the information 
provided is up -to-date so that foreign exporters have a clear view of the customs rules in 
Albania?  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Answer:  During the years 2024 –2025, Albanian customs administration will upgrade the 
customs website and conduct ongoing steps to translate the legislation.  
3.3.1 Incentives  
Paragraph 3.52, page 40:  "The Government also continues to provide direct incentives in line with 
its State Aid Law No 9374/2005. The Law applies to all manufacturing and services activities but 
does not apply to  agriculture and fisheries. As outlined in the previous Review, the Law prohibits 
state aid to be linked to export quantities, expenditures, or the use of domestic rather than imported 
inputs. A State Aid Commission (SAC) approves all state aid schemes and  individual aid based on 
submissions from the Department of Business Development Policies in the Ministry of Finance and 
Economy. However, according to a recent EU assessment, the operational independence of the SAC 
has not yet been ensured and its enforce ment record needs to be significantly improved."  
 
EU question 5:  Could Albania please clarify what steps it plans to take to enhance the 
operational independence of the State Aid Commission?   
 
Answer:  
Regarding the State Aid Commission's independence, a  Policy Impact Assessment (PIA) 
document will be prepared.  
This doc ument will serve as a technical blueprint, offering various options for safeguarding the 
operational independence of the State Aid Commission.  
Our approach encompasses all dimensions of independence, including: (i) Safeguarding 
independence from political interference; (ii) Implementing a transparent and competitive 
appointment process; (iii) Ensuring budget autonomy; (iv) Establishing robust reporting 
mechanisms, oversight procedures, and conflict of interest safeguards; (v) Promoting 
stakeholder engagemen t, public awareness, and educational initiatives.  
The PIA document will not only outline these essential independence dimensions but also 
provide a clear indication of the interventions required to align the legal framework with the 
Acquis . It is anticipat ed finalizing the PIA by the end of 2024.  
 
Paragraph 3.56, page 41:  "As spelled out in the previous Review, Albania continues to implement a 
scheme of Technology and Economic Development Areas (TEDAs) as defined in Law No. 9789/2007, 
amended in 2015. There  have been no further changes to the Law and related Council of Ministers 
Decisions during the review period59, but the BIDS 2021 -27 foresees a detailed review of the 
functioning of TEDAs. TEDAs aim to attract FDI by creating predictable investment conditi ons and 
are established by Council of Ministers Decisions. Four TEDAs have been established in Spitalle, 
Durrës (2015), Koplik, Malësi e Madhe (2016), Elbasan (2019), and Tirana (2021). […]"  
EU question 6:  According to the Report, there have been establish ed four Technology and 
Economic Development Areas (TEDAs) in Albania which have the potential to further 
improve the business environment in the country and hence increase FDIs. However, 
there is only one fully operational TEDA (established in 2019) despit e two were 
established already in 2015 and 2016. Could Albania please specify the reasons why the 
two TEDAs do not operate yet and when it expects their operation?  
Answer:  Regarding "TEDA Spitalle", the Decision of the Council of Ministers for the 
announce ment of TEDA Spitalle has been changed several times. The area where TEDA Spitalle 
is located, has been used for the development of other important projects;  
a) The surface of about 120  ha has been used for the construction of the photovoltaic park.  
b) After the earthquake of 2019 a part of the surface to be transferred for the needs of 
reconstruction of houses for homeless families.  
Regarding "TEDA Koplik", the Ministry of Finance and Economy has developed several the 
selection competitive procedures an d it has not been possible to select the potential candidate, 
that would be able to develop TEDA Koplik.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 13 - 
 
  3.3.7 Intellectual property rights  
Paragraph 3.118, page 54:  "Albania is a net importer of IP although its exports grew significantly 
faster than its i mports during the review period (Table 1.3). Imports of IP royalties and licence fees 
increased from EUR 22.2 million in 2015 to EUR 29.4 million in 2021, while exports increased from 
EUR 1.8 million to EUR 16.5 million."  
 
EU question 7:  The Secretariat report notes a significant increase in IP exports between 
2015 and 2021. The Table  1.3 referred to, however, does not seem to reflect these figures 
as far as "Charges for the use of intellectual property n.i.e." are concerned. Could the 
Secreta riat please explain how the statistic on the increase of IP exports was generated?  
4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR  
4.2.2 Energy  
Paragraph 4.59, page 67 -68: "The overall energy policy of Albania is determined by the National 
Energy Strategy (2018 -30), approved b y Council of Ministers Decision No. 480/2018, and the 2021 
National Plan for Energy and Climate (2021 -30). These two documents define the objectives and 
goals for increasing the security of energy supply through (i)  diversifying energy production by 
creati ng a supportive domestic energy market; (ii)  reducing the level of technical and non -technical 
energy losses in the network; (iii)  increasing energy efficiency; (iv)  increasing the share of energy 
from renewable sources; (v)  reducing the amount of imported  energy; (vi)  improving energy 
intensity; and (vii)  reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ". 
EU question 8:  Could Albania please clarify to what extent it fulfils the National Energy 
Strategy  (2018 -2030) and the National Plan for Energy and Climate (2021 -2030), 
particularly with regard to the possible increase of renewable energy resources in its 
energy production mix? Are the targets stipulated therein continuously being met?  
Answer:  
In the framework of the EU decarbonization policy, and in compliance wit h the National Energy 
Strategy, the Council of Ministers approved the integrated National Energy and Climate Plan 
2020-2030 (NECP).  
NECP provides the following national targets and measures up to 2030:  
o Reducing final energy consumption (energy efficiency) by 8.4%;  
o Renewable energy share in final energy consumption 54.4%;  
o Reducing GHG emissions by 18.7%.  
The Energy Community Ministerial Council  by its Decision 2022/02/MC -EnC of 
15 December  2022 adopted the 2030 energy and climate targets. These n ew targets should 
be integrated into an updated NECP.  
NECP currently being revised to be amended in accordance with recommendations of the 
Energy Community Secretariat. The revised NECP is planned to be enacted by 2024.  
In the revised NECP, it is aimed to reduce final energy consumption by 9.4% (cf. 8.4%), to 
increase the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption to 59.4% (cf. 54.) 4%, 
while GHG emissions reduction target remains at 18.7%.  
 
 
  Table 1. Shares of Energy from Re newable Sources  
 
WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 14 - 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The share of renewable energy sources in Albania's energy consumption reached 45.01% in 
2020, exceeding the country's target of 38%. Albania is one of the three Contracting Parties 
of the Energy Community, which achieved its 2020 renewables target. The country has fulfilled 
the targets for renewable energy resources and continues to be a frontrunner when it come s 
to implementation of auctions for renewables projects.  
 
4.3.3 Postal and courier services  
Paragraph 4.167, pages 85 -86: "The postal sector is regulated by Law No. 46/2015 on Postal 
Services, which transposes EU Directive 2002/39/EC on postal services as amended. The postal 
market is liberalized and as of January  2017, the reserved area was abolished. A policy paper, for 
the development of the postal market in line with the EU acquis and aiming at the growth of e -
commerce, was approved by the Council of Ministers in April  2022". 
 
EU question 9:  Is there a difference in customs procedures between postal and express 
consignments? If so, could Albania please provide us with some details?  
 
Answer:   
The customs  administration  has seen the facilitation  and simplification  of customs  procedures  
for the movement  of postal  goods  in the context  of the development  of two modules:  
1) Express  consignments ; 
2) Albanian  Post. 
 
The express  consignments  module  is explained  above,  in EU Question  1. For the development  
of this module,  postal  operators  will need to digitally  send the specified  electronic  manifest  
format  from their IT system  via web-services.  
 
The Albanian  Post module  requires  the development  and implementation  of the postal  
declaration  and integration  with the UPU (Universal  Postal  Union)  systems.  The postal  operator  
must convert  the CN23  format  or its equivalent  to the format  required  by the Customs  
Authority  to comply  with the ASYCUDA  world  system.  This format  will have to be sent by the 
postal operator  digitally.  
 
The Customs  Administration  has prepared  a draft agreement  with the Postal  operator  (it is in 
the phase  of review  by the two administrations)  and then it must make  an agreement  with 
the UPU so that UNCTAD  to operate  IT developments  in the system.  
 
The difference  between  these  two modules  is the form of declaration:  
1) for express  consignments  - it is done in the form of a simplified  declaration;  
2) for the Albanian  Post - it is done through  the CN22  or CN23  format.  
 
4.3.4.2 Maritime transpo rt 
 
Paragraph 4.196, page 90:  "Pilotage services are compulsory for all foreign flagged vessels over 
500 GT, all Albanian flagged vessels over 2,000  GT, and all vessels over 500  GT engaged in transport 
of passengers ". 
 Table 2. The sectorial (electricity, heating and cooling, and transport) and overall 
shares of energy from renewable sources[1] 
WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 15 - 
 
  EU question 10 : Could Albania please clarify where (i.e.  specific location, geographical 
area) the obligation to use pilotage services apply, as well as what are the fees charged 
for the supply of these services? Can it also be clarified whether pilotage services are also 
compulsory fo r Albanian flagged vessels between 500  GT and 2000  GT transporting 
freight, as it is the case for foreign flagged vessels? If it is not the case, could Albania 
please explain how the different treatment of Albanian flagged vessels and foreign flagged 
vesse ls over 500 GT transporting freight is compatible with Albania's GATS commitments 
for maritime transport services?  
 
Answer:  The pilotage service is mandatory for all ships with the Albanian flag and those with 
foreign, private or public ships in these cases:  
1- For ships with a foreign flag, with tonnage over 500  GT 
2- For ships with the Albanian flag with a tonnage over 2000  GT 
3- For Albanian and foreign flag ships with tonnage over 500  GT that operate on regular lines 
for the international transport of vehicles and/or passengers  
4- For ships with a foreign flag with a tonnage under 500  GT that touch the Open Ports of the 
Republic of Albania for the first time Mandatory Pilotage Area (Ports) are:  Port of Durres, 
Port of MBM, Romano Port, Port of Vlora,  Port of Vlora -1, Port of Shengjin, Port of Saranda, 
Port of Limion.  
 
The fixed fees for the pilotage service in the Ports: Vlora, Vlora -1, Shengjin, Sarande are as 
follows:  
 
MAXIMUM CHARGES FOR PILOTING SERVICE  
a) for ships up to and including 500 (GT) - €20; 
b) for ships 501 up to and including 1,000 (GT) - €30; 
c) for ships over 1,001 to 2,000 GT - €40; 
d) for ships from 2,001 to 3,000 GT - €70; 
e) for ships from 3,001 to 5,000 GT - €110;  
ë) for ships from 5,001 to 10,000 GT - €190;  
f) for ships from 10, 001 to 15,000 GT - €250;  
g) for ships from 15,001 to 20,000 GT - €300;  
gj) for ships from 20,001 to 25,000 GT - €400;  
h) for ships over 25,000 GT for every 10,000 GT - €80 additional on top of the €400 fee.  
- For tourist, sports, yachts, etc., with a capac ity of up to 100 GT, the pilotage service is paid 
based on the GT of the ship at a rate of €0.01/GT, but not less than €5.  
- For the pilotage service performed for ships loaded with dangerous goods and fuel, the 
supplement should not exceed 20% of the abov e fee.  
- When the pilotage service is performed without the help of the ship's machinery from the 
road to the quay and vice versa, the above fees are applied with a 100% increase.  
 
The fixed fees for the pilotage service in Romano Port are as follows:  
MAXIMUM CHARGES FOR PILOTING SERVICE  
a) for ships up to and including 500 (GT) - €50; 
b) for ships 501 up to and including 1,000 (GT) - €70; 
c) for ships over 1,001 to 2,000 GT - €120;  
d) for ships from 2,001 to 3,000 GT - €190;  
e) for ships from 3,001 to 5,000 GT - €250;  
ë) for ships from 5,001 to 7,000 GT - €330;  
f) for ships from 7,001 to 10,000 GT - €540;  
g) for ships from 10,001 to 20,000 GT - €650;  
 
4.3.4.3 Rail transport  
Paragraph 4.206, page 92:  "Following a joint declaration by the European Commiss ion and six 
Western Balkans prime ministers in April 201575, the TEN -T European railway corridors map was 
amended by EU Regulation 2016/758/EU so as to include the complete rehabilitation of the link 
between Tirana and Podgorica, Montenegro. […]"  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 16 - 
 
  EU questi on 11:  Could Albania please elaborate on the current state of the rehabilitation 
of the link between Tirana and Podgorica in Montenegro? The report states that the 
construction works are expected to start in 2023. At what stage is the construction at the 
moment?  
Answer:  The construction works for the rehabilitation of the link between Tirana and 
Podgorica in Montenegro (Vorë -Hani I Hotit) have not started yet. The tender procedure for 
the construction works is expected to start in the first quarter of 2024. Currently, the Ministry 
of Finance and Economy is expected to set the date for the negotiation regarding the signing 
of the loan and grant agreements with the donators for this project.  
 
4.3.4.4 Road transport  
Paragraph 4.210, page 92:  "Domestic tran sport of passengers is regulated through licences granted 
at the municipal level, except for occasional transport services, which are regulated at the level of 
the region/district. There are no limitations for operating in the regular or occasional transpo rt of 
passengers or the transport of goods. For intercity (or inter -urban) transport of passengers and on 
regular bus lines between districts, only one company for the respective regular line is allowed. One 
company can cover more than one regular line. Fo r social reasons, road passenger tariffs are subject 
to a maximum pricing obligation set by Council of Ministers Decision No. 66/2007 ". 
 
EU question 12 : Could Albania please clarify whether foreign companies are currently 
providing road transport services – passenger transportation in Albania? Can it also be 
clarified how the fact that only one company is allowed for intercity (or inter -urban) 
transport of passengers and on regular bus lines between districts is compatible with 
Albania's GATS commitments fo r road transport services – passenger transportation?  
 
Answer:  
Based on the law No. 8308, dated 18  March  1998 "On road transports" as amended:  
a) Article  2, "Transport within the land territory of the Republic of Albania is prohibited for 
foreign carriers that do not have their headquarters/established in Albania, except when they 
are registered in the Albanian Trade Registry and work with vehicles registered in Albania. In 
accordance with the rules of the international agreements signed on behalf of the Re public of 
Albania, the above rule may not apply. "Article  52, "A carrier that does not have its 
headquarters/established in the Republic of Albania is prohibited from performing international 
transport in the land territory of the Republic of Albania. This  obstacle can be removed only 
with a permit issued by the Ministry ". 
Article  52/1, "1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article  2 of this law, the minister allows 
the carrying out of internal transport territory of the Republic of Albania by a foreig n carrier 
(cabotage), which does not have its headquarters/established in Albania, even when it is not 
stipulated in the international agreement with the state, where the foreign carrier has its 
headquarters, only for reasons of civil emergency and lasts f or as long as the situation lasts 
emergency.  
2. The rules and conditions for carrying out cabotage operations are determined by decision 
of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with bilateral or multilateral agreements, which 
foreseen it.  
b) Article  17, "To acquire the right as a sole/as a single company/carrier in one or several 
regular lines, the transport subject/carrier must have the number of buses, in accordance with 
the needs of the line".  
 
WT/TPR/G/449 – Government report – Report by Albania  
 
EU question 13, no reference:  Concerning the subsidies and subsidy schemes under 
temporary aid measures in response to COVID -19 and to the consequences of the 
Russia n Federation 's war of aggression against Ukraine, could Albania please clarify the 
form of aid granted and what is the t ime horizon of these subsidies?  
 
Answer:  Sovereign Guarantee Schemes in the frame of economic measures  
 
Loan Guarantee 1: ALL  11.0 billion  
The Government of Albania issued the first loan guarantee in the amount of ALL  11.0 billion 
(approx. USD  100 million)  with the aim to support firms with liquidity that is going to be 
allocated by banks to companies that have difficulties in paying employee salaries. Interest WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 17 - 
 
  rate costs are fully covered by the government and no collateral is required by the companies. 
The loan will cover the employee salaries for a 3 -month period, not exceeding a monthly salary 
of ALL  150,000 per worker. The maximum grace period of the loans was 3 months, and the 
maximal term of the loans was 2  years.  
 
The Guarantee was approved through t he Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 277, 
dated  6 April 2020, "On the approval of the state loan guarantee with commercial banks for 
the salaries of traders or companies, whose activity is affected by the decisions of the Council 
of Ministers, in th e context of managing the situation caused by COVID -19, as well as for 
determining the terms and criteria of the guarantee agreement and the agreement of 
understanding".  
 
Around 492  businesses have benefited financing under this scheme, ALL 5.9 billion 
applications were approved and ALL 5.3 billion were disbursed. The interests paid from the 
state budget under this scheme amounts to ALL  156.79  million, and as of 30  September  2023 
only one payment of around ALL  1.9 million has been made upon the guarantee b eing called 
for one of the loans.  
 
Loan Guarantee 2: ALL  15.0 billion  
In addition to the first Loan Guarantee, the Government of Albania issued a second Guarantee 
in the amount of ALL  15.0 billion (approx. USD  136 million) providing loans for working capit al 
and investment for all sectors of the economy. The Government guarantees 60% of the 
principal and the maximum value of the loan per company cannot exceed ALL  300 million. The 
maximum grace period of the loans was 6 months, and the maximal term of the lo ans was 
5 years.  
 
The Guarantee was approved through the Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 387, dated 
13 May 2020, "On the approval of the state guarantee for the loans with the commercial banks 
for the guarantee of the borrowing of business and the  commercial companies to enable the 
financing of the recovery of the trade activity affected by the situation created by COVID -19 
as well as on the definition of the conditions and criteria's of the guarantee and understanding 
agreements".  
 
Around 569  businesses have benefited financing under this scheme, around ALL  18.8 billion 
applications were approved and ALL 18.4 billion were disbursed. As of 30  September  2023 
only one payment of approx. ALL  1.6 million has been made for one of the loans being called. 
under this guarantee.  
 
Sovereign Guarantee 3 under economic measures at the beginning of Ukrainian conflict.  
Based on the obligations set out in the Normative Act, which defines the rules for transparency 
and price monitoring of some basic food pro ducts as well as the special measures to be taken, 
the Government of the Republic of Albania issued a State Guarantee, in order to manage the 
situation created from the impact of the Russian -Ukraine Conflict on the prices increase. This 
Guarantee Agreement  was approved by Council of Ministers Order No.  349, 
dated  26 May 2022, at the amount of ALL  3.0 billion. This Guarantee Agreement aim was to 
enable axes to finance to the entities that wholesale basic food products in order to obtain the 
necessary financi ng to maintain basic food products reserve for a period of 3  months (measure 
foreseen in the Normative Act). MFE undertook to guarantee up to 60% of the principal of 
each Loan that the Lender disbursed to the Borrowers. The maximal term of the loans was 
3 years.  
Seven businesses have benefited financing under this scheme. The amount approved and 
disbursed is ALL  953.1  million.  
 
Fiscal policy:  
As a result of the Pandemic and the effects it has created on the economy, the Albanian 
Government has had to take i mmediate fiscal policy steps.  
The situation faced by our country, as a result of the pandemic caused by COVID -19, made it 
necessary to create a legal framework for those taxpayers who face the greatest difficulties 
from this situation. For this purpose, the Albanian Government has tried as much as possible 
to create the opportunity to ease costs for businesses by undertaking various legal initiatives.  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 18 - 
 
  I. Income tax and simplified income tax  
During 2020, a series of legal acts have been undertake n with the aim of mitigating the 
financial effects caused by the pandemic. Specifically, in relation to income tax for small 
business and for large business, the following incentives have been undertaken;  
- Normative Act No. 10, dated 26  March  2020, has en abled the postponement of the deadlines 
for declaration and payment of income tax, in 2020, in order to support the taxpayer in 
fulfilling tax obligations.  
- Normative Act No. 11, dated 27  March  2020 has enabled the postponement of the period for 
the payme nt of instalments of the simplified tax on profit in order to provide facilities to 
businesses that have stopped their activity as a result of the measures taken as a result 
of COVID -19. 
- Normative act No. 18, dated 23  April 2020, has made it possible to postpone the deadlines 
for the prepayment of instalments of tax on the profit of 2020, for taxpayers with turnover 
over ALL 14 million (except for taxpayers who exercise activity in the field of 
telecommunications, food products of consumption, of pharmaceuticals (pharmacies) and 
the banking system) and for taxpayers who exercise activity in the field of tourism, active 
processing and call centers. In addition, the prepayment instalments of profit tax for 
taxpayers with a turnover of less than ALL  14 million were zeroed. In this direction, the aim 
was to support businesses in terms of available liquidity . 
- Normative Act No. 19, dated 23  April 2020 has provided that the instalment payments of 
the simplified income tax in 2020 will not be paid.  
 
Meanw hile, within the framework of the fiscal policies that were evaluated to be undertaken 
further, there was also the change in the tax rate applied for profit tax.  
 
From 1  January  2021, the tax rate for profit tax and simplified profit tax on small business,  
for turnover taxpayers, up to ALL  14 million is 0%. With this incentive, tax payers with a 
turnover of up to ALL  14 million are relieved of their fiscal burden within the framework of 
profit tax and simplified profit tax.  
 
The sectors that benefit the mos t from this incentive are the service s sector , which accounts 
for 41% of the total beneficiaries of the incentive, and the trade sector, which accounts 
for 36%.  
 
II. Financial assistance for employees  
1. Decision No. 254 dated 27  March  2020 "On determining  the procedures, documentation 
and extent of benefiting from financial assistance for employees in business entities with 
annual income up to ALL  14 million, economic assistance and income payment from 
unemployment during the period of the natural disaster , announced as a result of 
COVID -19" has provided as follows:  
 
a. Grant of financial assistance to employees in business entities with annual income up to 
ALL 14,000,000  (fourteen  million), for the period after the interruption of economic 
activity/labo ur relations due to the state of the epidemic caused by COVID19, according 
to the orders of the minister of Health and Social Protection.  
b. Giving an additional payment to individuals who benefit from economic assistance 
payment.  
c. Providing an additional p ayment to individuals who benefit from unemployment income 
payment.  
 
From the first package, according to Decision No.  254, dated 27  March  2020, grant of financial 
assistance to employees in business entities with annual income up to ALL 14,000,000 
(fourteen million), for the period after the cessation of economic activity/labo ur relations for 
due to the state of the epidemic caused by COVID -19, according to the orders of the Minister 
of Health and Social Protection, a total of 65,574  employees have benefited.  
 
2. From the second package, Decision No.  305, dated 16  April 2020, Grant of financial 
assistance of ALL  40,000  (forty thousand) to former employees in entities that have been 
allowed to carry out activities according to the orders of the Minister of Health and Social 
Protection have benefited a total of 173,035  employees.  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 19 - 
 
  3. From the aid package according to Decision No.  651, dated 13  August  2020, Grant of 
financial assistance of ALL  26,000 (twenty -six thousand), due to the situation created by 
COVID -19, for employees or former employees in public, city and intercity transport entities, 
a total of 5,506  employees have benefited.  
 
4. From the aid package with Decision No.  651, dated 13  August  2020 (amended) providing 
financial  assistance of ALL  10,000 for employees or former employees in public, city and 
intercity transport entities, a total of 8,790 employees have benefited.  
 
5. From the package according to decision No. 856, dated 4  November  2020, providing 
financial assistan ce to categorized small and medium -sized enterprises in the production 
sector (hereinafter "enterprises"), according to Article  4 of Law No. 8957, dated 
17 October  2002, "For small and medium enterprises" of ALL  4,000 for each employee for a 
period of two months, a total of 26,383  employees have benefited  
 
I. PANDEMIC YEARS 2020 -2021 
1. Interventions in emergency conditions by types (aid packages, health budget, etc.), 
financial effects and sources:  
The following table shows the allocated funds as well as b udget revisions during the years 
2020-2021 to cope with the pandemic situation.  
 
Year 2020  
In the framework of the COVID19 pandemic, a number of measures were taken to support 
the economy during the crisis, which aimed to:  
Support for health - The governm ent granted: (i)  Additional funding of ALL  2.5 billion to the 
Ministry of Health and Social Protection for the purchase of protective equipment, medical 
equipment, ambulances, improvements in hospital infrastructure as well as bonuses for 
doctors and healt h personnel. (ii)  About ALL  507 million aid mainly from international 
organizations in medical equipment, protective materials and medicines.  
VITETSHTESAT E 
FONDEVEFONDI 
TOTAL
19,500,000
6,000,000
2,500,000
11,000,000
Akti  Normativ Nr. 15, date 15.04.2020 22,000,000
7,000,000
15,000,000
1,000,000
2,102,330
Akti Normativ Nr.8 datë 22.03.2021 1,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000Fondi Kontigjencë për Paketën Sociale Anti Covid 19
Alokime per tu alokuar me VKM ne MSHMS 
Garancia Sovrane I
Fondi Kontigjencë për Paketën Sociale Anti Covid 19
Garancia Sovrane II
Akti Normativ nr. 34/202042,500,000
Fonde te miratuara ne buxhetin e MSHMS per perballimin e dyfishimit te NE 
dhe PAK
Shtesa e Fondit Rezerve te Buxhetit me qellim perballimin e blerjes se vaksinave
Akti Normativ nr. 26, datë 22.06.2021
Shjtesa e Fondit Rezerve te Buxhetit me qellim perballimin e blerjes se vaksinave6,102,330Shtesa e Fondit Rezerve te Buxhetit me qellim perballimin e blerjes se vaksinaveFONDE T PE R PE RBALLIMIN E  PANDE MISE  ME  RISHIKIME T E  BUXHE TIT   ne 000/l
EMERTIMI
Akti Normatin nr. 6 date 21.03.2020
Shtesa e buxhetit te MSHMS per NE dhe PAKViti 2020
Ligjin Fillestar me nr.  nr.137/2020 “Për Buxhetin e vitit 2021” 
Akti Normativ nr. 18, datë 2.04.2021 Viti 2021WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 20 - 
 
  Social support for families in need – The economic assistance program me was expanded by 
(i) doubling the benefit a mount for the families of the scheme for a three -month period during 
the quarantine; (ii)  granted a payment of ALL  16,000 to families who had applied but were 
not qualified for the scheme. Consequently, expenses for economic assistance increased by 
24% or about ALL  1 billion. Meanwhile, the expenses for the disability scheme increased by 
about 2  billion more.  
 
Support for employment and businesses - In order to cope with the consequences of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, funds for measures to help employment were i ncreased by about 
ALL 12.7 billion, where support for business in the conditions of economic closure during the 
quarantine of C OVID-19 (VKM  254, 284, 305/2020) resulted in approximately 
ALL 12.05  billion (or 98% of the anticipated funds) for 243,500  busine sses and individuals 
affected by the pandemic.  
Employment promotion measures – A new employment promotion program me was approved 
in September  2020, to support the employment of workers laid off due to C OVID -19 by 
covering the minimum wage for 4  months and social and health insurance for 8  months others, 
at a cost of ALL 200 million additional (in 2020 and 2021); alongside a program me to support 
the formalization of informal workers (ALL  44 million in 2020).  
 
In summary, the budget funds allocated during 2020, within the framework of anti -COVID19 
measures, are presented as follows:  
• Contingency Fund for the Social Package Anti  COVID-19 ALL  13,500  million.  
• Reserve Fund of the State Budget (Other Emergencies ) 
• within the framework of Anti  COVID-19 measures) ALL  629.4  million.  
• Allocations with VKM in MSHMS ALL  2,500  million.  
 
Total budget funds ALL  16,629.4  million.  
• Sovereign  Guarantee  I ALL 11,000  million.  
• Sovereign Guarantee  II ALL  15,000  million.  
Total Sovereign Guarantee ALL  26,000  million.  
Financing in total ALL  42.629  million.  
 
YEAR  2021  
• Pursuant to Law  no. 137/2020 "On the budget of 2021, amended", in the budget of th e 
Ministry of Education and Culture, funds are planned for covid19 expenses, in a value of 
nearly ALL  6 billion.  
• Also, as a new measure related to the pandemic, through VKM No. 85 dated 
10 February  2021 "For an addition to VKM no.  597 dated 09  April 2019 " For determining the 
procedures, documentation and monthly measure of the benefit of economic aid and the use 
of the additional fund on the conditions fund for economic aid", the doubling of the amount 
of economic aid for the first 6  months of 2021 was appr oved, with an effect of ALL  2.1 billion 
planned in the MSHMS budget.  
• Meanwhile, the Reserve Fund of the State Budget has been used in the amount of about 
ALL 4.1 billion for additional measures in the fight against C OVID-19 and for the purchase 
of vaccines  needed to vaccinate the population.  
 
II. The energy crisis and the crisis in commodity prices in 2021 -2022  
The energy crisis began to produce its effects in the last quarter of 2021. For this reason, 
budget interventions began in 2021 and continued in the  2022 budget. Meanwhile, the price 
crisis of other goods was affected by the effects of Russian aggression in Ukraine. These 
factors have influenced the change of the state budget several times by focusing specific 
measures on the affected sectors.  
1. Budget revisions to respond to the energy crisis and commodity price crisis:  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 21 - 
 
   
 
YEAR  2021  
• Through Normative Act  No. 31 dated 27  October  2021 "On some changes in 
Law No. 137/2020 "On the budget of 2021, amended", it was approved:  
• Arrangement of financial support for OSHEE sh.a, in the form of a sovereign guarantee 
instrument, with a value of ALL  10 billion for the year  2021, following the approval of 
VKM no. 584 dated  08 October  2021 "On declaring the state of emergency in electricity 
supply". This, based on the arguments given by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy 
and the respective request for financial support.  
• The approval of the aforementioned guarantee in the amount of ALL  10 billion for 2021, the 
increase in the value of the Eurobond as well a s other changes, implied an increase in the 
level of public debt by ALL  38.9 billion.  
 
YEAR 2022  
• With the Initial Budget Law  no. 115/2021 "For the 2022 budget", a budget loan of 
ALL 8 billion was approved for the energy sector.  
• With the Normative Act  no. 3 dated  12 March  2022 "On some changes in the 
law no. 115/2021, "For the 2022 budget", allocated (i)  ALL 6 billion for the financing of the 
Social Resilience Package against the Consequences of the Crisis as well as for mitigating 
the effects of the current  crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, as well as ( ii)  budget support 
for the energy sector of ALL  20 billion.  
• With the Normative Act No. 12 dated 29  July 2022 "On some changes in the law no. 
115/2021 "On the budget of 2022", as amended", the allocation of the fund of ALL  6.1 billion 
was approved for extending the support through Package of Social Resistance to the 
Consequences of the Crisis.  
• The permanent measures taken in the framework of social support are defined as follows: 
i) A 10% increa se in the amount of benefit for all families with economic assistance, as well 
as a doubling of the amount of benefit for women heads of families with two children and 
the elderly without a pension. The financial effect for 2022 is expected to be in the am ount 
of ALL  236 million; ii)  Indexation at the rate of 7.5% of the payment for persons with 
disabilities. The financial effect for 2022 is expected to be in the amount of ALL  188 million; 
iii) Additional support for electricity compensation for paraplegic and blind categories. The 
financial effect for 2022 is expected to be in the amount of ALL  33 million; iv)  Indexation at 
the rate of 7% of the salary for the public administration, benefiting about 
41,000  employees. The financial effect for 2022 is expecte d to be in the amount of 
ALL 713 million.  
c. Indexation of pensions at the rate of 6%. The financial effect for 2022 is expected to be 
in the amount of ALL  2 billion.  
vi) The increase of the minimum wage from ALL  32,000 to ALL  34,000.  
• The temporary measure s taken in the framework of social support are defined as follows:  
i) In the agricultural sector:  
• Supporting the cost of oil for farmers and the fishing sector of ALL  700 million.  
• Support for farmers for wheat planting of ALL  500 million.  
ii) Support for t he urban transport sector, in the amount of ALL  120 million.  
VITETSHTESAT E 
FONDEVEFONDI 
TOTAL
Viti 2021 10,000,000
8,000,000
26,000,000
20,000,000
6,000,000
7,770,000
6,100,000
1,670,000
7,800,000
7,800,000Viti 2022Ligjin Fillestar me nr.  nr.115/2021 “Për Buxhetin e vitit 2022” 
49,570,000Hua per sektorin energjitik
Akti Normativ nr. 3, datë 12.03.2022
Mbeshtetje buxhetore per sektorin energjitik
Akti Normativ nr. 12, datë 29.07.2022
Mbështetje financiare e menjëhershme për zbutjen maksimale të impaktit të inflacionit të 
luftësKontigjence per paketen e Rezistences sociale ndaj pasojave te krizes
Kontigjence per paketen e Rezistences sociale ndaj pasojave te krizes
Shtese per perballimin e kompesimit financiar te cmimeve te mat te ndertimit
Akti Normativ nr 19 date 29.12.2022Akti Normatin nr. 31 date 27.10.2021
10,000,000
Mbeshtetje per energjine nepermjet instrumentit te garancise sovraneFONDE T PE R PE RBALLIMIN E  KRIZE S SE  E NE RGJISE  DHE  ÇMIME VE    ne 000/l
EMERTIMIWT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 22 - 
 
  • With the Normative Act No. 19 dated 29  December  2022 "On some changes in the law 
no. 115/2021, "On the 2022 budget", as amended", the allocation of the fund in the 
amount of ALL 7.8 billion was approved for immediate financial support for the maximum 
mitigation of the impact of war inflation in a diffic ult economic winter for the whole of 
Europe. This fund was allocated as follows:  
• Pursuant to VKM no. 897 dated 29  December  2022 "For immediate financial support of 
pensioners to mitigate the impact of the crisis", about 695 thousand pensioners benefited 
from immediate financial support, in the amount of 8,000 (eight thousand) ALL/person. 
for mitigating the impact of the crisis, with a financial effect of ALL 5.6 billion.  
• Pursuant to VKM no. 898 dated 29  December  2022 "For immediate financial support of 
employees of general government units and public higher education institutions to 
mitigate the impact of the crisis", about 107 thousand employees benefited from 
immediate financial support of general government units and institutions of public higher 
educatio n (IALP) for mitigating the impact of the crisis, with a financial effect of about 
ALL 1.2 billion. Pursuant to VKM no. 899 dated 29  December  2022 "On the financial 
support of some special categories for mitigating the impact of the crisis", about 135,000 
beneficiaries received immediate financial support from the economic assistance and 
disability scheme for mitigating the impact of the crisis, with a financial effect of about 
ALL 1 billion.  
 
2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  
2.3.3 Technology and economic development  zones  
Paragraph 2.35, page 10:  "Pursuant to Law No.  9789, dated 19/07/2007 "On the creation and 
operation of technology and economic development zones" amended in 2015, there are established 
four TEDA."  
 
EU question 14:  Could Albania please clarify what are its plans regarding those zones, 
including whether it foresees an increase in subsidies to the TEDA? What is the rationale 
behind the allocation of these subsidies?  
 
Answer:  The Law  No. 9789, dated 19/07/2007 "On the establishment and operation of  
technology and economic development zones" amended in 2015, provided some fiscal 
incentive, but not foresees subsidies to the TEDAs  
Based on regional studies, the Ministry of Finance and Economy is creating the conditions for 
the announcement of new TEDAs , which will be more attractive for investors. The decision 
No. 646, dated 22  July 2015 "On stipulation of procedures and criteria for the selection of the 
developer in the technological and economic development area" was amended in 
December  2022, and crea ted the possibility for strategic investors to invest in TEDAs.  
 
3 TRADE POLICY DEVELOPMENTS  
3.2.1.7 Intellectual property rights  
 
Paragraph 3.30, page 15 : "The aim of the Albanian Government in the field of intellectual property 
rights (IP) is to stimulate economic, scientific and cultural development in the country, to ensure 
the proper functioning of the internal market by establishing the right balance b etween the rights of 
the owners of intellectual property objects and interests of users as well as strengthen the system 
of registration of IP objects. The main policy document on IPR is the National Strategy of Intellectual 
Property (NSIP). This strategy covers a five -year period. Since last Policy Review it has been 
implemented all the objectives set at the NSIP 2016 -2020. With the technical assistance of WIPO, 
the new NSIP 2022 – 2025 was approved with the Decision of Council of Ministers  No. 350 
of 26/05/2022 "On the approval of the National Strategy for Intellectual Property, 2022 – 2025". 
This new strategy clearly defines the commitments of each institution included in the institutional 
chain of implementation of these rights in the Republic of Albania ". 
 
EU question 15 : The Action Plan 2021 -2024 for the Common Regional Market defines as a 
priority area for trade related aspects the adoption of a regional framework on trade 
related aspects of IP and related rights. Regarding the National Strategy of Int ellectual 
Property (NSIP) 2022 – 2025, could Albania please specify whether there are any 
initiatives from its part to support such a regional framework?  
 
Answer:  Under Action Plan 2021 -2024 for the Common Regional Market, is drafted and 
approved at techni cal level the draft decision of the CEFTA Joint Committee on Commercial WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 23 - 
 
  Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Albania has concluded internal legislative procedures 
by approving the draft text at the Council of Ministers and is ready to endorse the draft  decision 
at the Joint Committee meeting.  
The national Strategy on Intellectual Property Rights 2022 -2025 is an inter -sectorial 
strategy  in the field of IP (the third national strategy until now in the Republic of Albania 
since 2010) and there are not fore seen any initiatives to support any regional framework on 
trade related aspects of IP and related rights.  
 
3.2.2.3.2 Postal service  
Paragraph 3.64, page 21:  "The postal sector is regulated by Law  No. 46/2015 "On postal services" 
which transposes the EU Directive 2002/59/EC on postal services, as amended. The implementing 
sublegal acts are also adopted. The postal market is liberali zed and since January  2017, the reserved 
area was abolished. The Decision of Council of Ministers  No. 207, dated 6/4/2022 app roved the 
policy document of postal services in the Republic of Albania, 2021 and following, and set concrete 
and operational objectives for all stakeholders, in view of developing and improving the postal sector 
in line with the EU acquis  and in particula r for accommodating technological innovations and 
prompting e -commerce. A sub legal act on cross border parcel delivery was also approved by 
Instruction of Minister of Infrastructure and Energy No.  5 of 25/6/2021 "On the approval of the 
regulation on cross  border parcel delivery services" aligned with EU Regulation 2018/644. In 
June 2023, there were 31 postal services operators licensed/authorized by AKEP ". 
 
EU question 16 : Could Albania please give some examples on the technological innovations on 
postal consignments?  
 
Answer:  Based on technology revolution the Albanian Post (USO provider) has invested in 
information and communication technology in order to support and faci litate the postal items 
delivery and tracked delivery services in conformity with international standards and 
regulations as approved by UPU.  
The Albanian Post has also invested in green transport vehicles in the framework of QSF 
(Quality Service Fund) pro ject of UPU and in line with Green Agenda objectives.  
Based on technology revolution, the Albanian Post (USO provider) has invested in information 
and communication technology, in order to support and facilitate the postal items delivery and 
tracked deliv ery services in conformity with international standards and regulations as 
approved by UPU.  
The Albanian Post has also invested in green transport vehicles in the framework of QSF 
(Quality Service Fund) project of UPU and in line with Green Agenda objectiv es. 
 
3.2.3 Trade policy coordination and monitoring  
Paragraph 3.65, page 21 : "As previously reported, since 2016, Albania has established the National 
Committee for Trade Policy Coordination. The Committee is functional and meets 3 -4 times a year. 
The Comm ittee functions based on the internal regulation "On functioning of the Inter -Institutional 
Group for Coordination of Trade Policy and Trade Facilitation", approved by the Minister of Finance 
and Economy. The first Action Plan on Trade facilitation, 2017 – 2020 approved by the Committee 
has been mostly completed and actually, it is under implementation the Action Plan, 2021 – 2023". 
 
EU question 17 : Could Albania please provide some examples of actions implemented under the 
latest Action plan 2021-2023, including some actions pertaining to services?  
 
Answer : Action Plan 2021 – 2023 was focused on concrete measures to facilitate trade for 
Albanian businesses that intend to develop trade in the Western Balkans region, 
European  Union  countries and  beyond. This Plan it is harmonized with (i)  the developments 
of trade policies undertaken by Albania in the framework of the implementation of CEFTA 
Additional Protocol 5 "On Trade Facilitation", (ii)  is in full alignment with the Action Plan 2021 
– 2024 for the creation of the Common Regional Market and (iii)  measures that reflect the 
problems encountered by Albanian businesses in their trade, and concrete proposals. The plan 
contains 22  measures, out of which: 15  measures have been implemented.  
 
1. Post-Clearance Audit/Control.  
2. Effective implementation and operationalization of the existing program me for Authorized 
Economic Operators.  
3. Improving the risk management system in customs (Risk based Inspection).  
4. Cooperation between agencies at the bord er crossing level (Border agency cooperation).  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 24 - 
 
  5. Implementation of the transitional rules of the Pan -Euro Mediterranean Regional 
Convention on preferential rules of origin.  
6. Harmonization of working hours with the agencies operating at the border points  with the 
countries of Montenegro, Kosovo and North  Macedonia . 
7. Analysis of the implementation of the 2018 Joint Protocol between the Ministries of 
Agriculture of Albania and Kosovo.  
8. Establishment of a joint working group with Kosovo for sanitary and phytosanitary issues.  
9. Creation of a joint group with North  Macedonia  for sanitary and phytosanitary issues.  
10. Information on legal, regulatory and procedural requirements especially related to the 
import/export of agri -food products and animal origin.  
11. Information on product safety and quality requirements in Westren Balkan neighbo uring 
partner countries.  
12. Analysis of potential productive sectors to be competitive for export.  
13. Assessment of the need for new Free Trade Agreements with specific countries.  
14. Monitoring of the implementation of measures in the Action Plan 2021 – 2024 of the 
Common Regional Market.  
15. Export strategy consultation.  
 
Six measures are in process  
1. Pre-arrival processing.  
2. Improving the legal framework for customs appeal procedures.  
3. Measures to facilitate transport through the implementation of the NCTS System.  
4. Implementation of the ITMS (Integrated Tariff Management) project.  
5. Reducing costs related to trade with CEFTA parties.  
6. Remo val of trade barriers with Kosovo and North  Macedonia . 
The measure related to starting of the experiment procedure for the statement -invoice (value 
under EUR  3000), is still pending.  
 
4 TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES AND DEVELOPMENT  
4.3 Regional integration  
Parag raph 4.7, page 22:  "[…] CEFTA parties concluded the Additional Protocol 6 that aims at further 
liberalization of trade in services, which Albania ratified with the Law  No. 46/2020 "For the 
ratification of Additional Protocol  6 of the Agreement on the Amend ment and Access to the Central 
European Free Trade Agreement". At CEFTA level, the protocol entered into force on 
11 January  2011. […] "  
 
EU question 18:  Could Albania please confirm that the correct date which we understand 
was 2021 and not 2011?  
 
Answer:  Yes, Albania confirms that the correct date of entry into force of Additional Protocol  6 
was 11  January  2021.  
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 25 - 
 
  JAPAN  
Report by the Secretariat (WT/TPR/S/449)  
2. Trade and Investment Regimes  
2.4.2 International cooperation  
Paragraph 2.39  
(Page 26 and 27) 
 
Question 1:  
With regard to double taxation agreements, we are aware that there are some cases 
where such agreements are not fully implemented domestically and their benefits are not 
being enjoyed by applicants.  
Please provide us with the contact point  of these cases for conducting consultation.  
 
Answer:  
According to point 4.4 of the Order of the Minister of Finance No.  6, dated  10 February  2004 
"On Bilateral Agreements for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal 
Evasion", the provisions of international agreements ratified by the Parliament "On the 
avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of Fiscal Evasion" are a pplied only after the 
entities/taxpayers that have transactions with persons who are residents of the countries with 
which the Agreement was concluded have made a written request and filed the agreement 
application form with the General Directorate of Taxa tion and the latter has issued an official 
document, which must be based on the concrete provisions of an Agreement that is in force.  
This means that the agreements are only implemented after an application is made and 
approval is issued by the Tax Adminis tration.  
We also inform you that from the verifications made, it results that the Republic of Albania 
and Japan do not have in force an international agreement ratified by the Parliament "For the 
avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of Fiscal Ev asion".  
 
The contact point with regards to double taxation agreements is: denisa.canaj@tatime.gov.al . 
 
3. Trade policies and practices by measure  
3.1.1 Customs procedures, v aluation, and requirements  
Paragraph 3.3  
(Page 29)  
 
Question 2 : 
Given the fact that there is no English version of the Custom Laws (or secondary 
legislations) posted on the Customs website and that the English version does not seem 
fully up to date, please provide us with the government's perspective on timely posting of 
the English version of these laws and regulations.  
Are there any other way to obtain English version of these laws and regulations other than 
through the website?  
 
Answer:  
During the years 2024 –2025, Albanian customs administration will upgrade the customs 
website and conduct ongoing steps to translate the legislation.  
 
3. Trade policies and practices by measure  
3.3.7 Intellectual property rights  
Paragraph 3.125 and 3.130  
(Page 56 and 57)  
 
Question 3 : 
The report states that the Inspectorate for Marke t Surveillance (SIMS) was established in 
2016, tasked with guaranteeing the protection of intellectual property (IP) in the 
domestic market, and SIMS also imposed administrative measures (fines and warnings) 
following such investigations since  2018; howeve r, the report also states that there are 
currently no provisions in place regarding the infringement of copyright online.  
Japan would like to know whether the SIMS can exercise such rights over online piracy. 
If SIMS does not have such authority, what meas ure can the government take against 
counterfeit products traded over the Internet?  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Answer:  Albania has a very well -structured Copyright Directorate, within the Ministry of 
Culture, and also a number of other national institutions that deal with copyright, each with 
specified duties: AMA, State Inspectorate Market Surveillance (SIMS), AKEP and State Police.  
SIMS is responsible for the surveillance of the compliance of the intellectual property only in 
the physical market. Currently SIMS do not have the compe tencies to act against the online 
piracy.  
As stated at the WTO Secretariat report, Albanian does not have in place provisions regarding 
the infringement of copyright online. By the end of year 2025, Albanian government will 
transpose both directives of EU Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of 
the Council of 17  April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and 
amending Directives  96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC and Directive (EU) 2019/789 on the exercise 
of copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions of broadcasting 
organizations and retransmissions of television and radio programs, and amending Council 
Directive 93/83/EEC.  
 
We would like to emphasize that the Copyright Directorate, in charge of  copyright in Albania, 
has taken initially several steps to the drafting of the new articles in the copyright law on the 
digital environment, such as: organized several workshops, trainings and seminars on the 
field and finalized a feasibility study on the  assessment of an analysis and comparison of EU 
and existing national environmental legislation to determine the existing state of conformity 
and the appropriate national response to the EU legislation; the capacities of the Copyright 
Directorate in Albani a and the expectations for each stakeholder included in this procedure. 
The first drafting of the new copyright law articles that will address the online copyright 
infringement will initiate in December  2023. 
Getting the best practices on EU countries that  have already transposed the Directive and 
organization workshops on importance are concrete actions to be taken by Albania.  
In regard to whether the SIMS can exercise such rights over online piracy, we would like to 
emphasize that Albania still has to ide ntify the competent authorities for each of the tasks 
introduced by the New Copyright Directive and the SatCab II Directive.  
 
Report by the Government (WT/TPR/G/449)  
3. Trade policy developments  
3.2.1 Main trade policy advancement  
Paragraph 3.7  
(Page 12) 
 
Question 4 : 
According to the report, the corrections and changes in tariff classification and legislative 
changes to make MFN level fully compliant with the WTO respective bound rate are in 
process.  
What is the estimated time frame for completion of these revisions?  
 
Answer:  Regarding the concern raised on the difference between MFN rate and the bound 
rate for few tariff lines, Albania confirms this fact and we would like to clarify all WTO members 
that this difference is due to the corr elations and changes in the tariff classification. There is 
no intention by Albania to be in breach with WTO schedule of commitments. We remain fully 
committed to respect our commitments undertaken under WTO.  
 
4. Trade policy objectives and development  
4.1 Participation in WTO negotiations  
Paragraph 4.4  
(Page 22)  
 
Question 5 : 
Regarding Albania's accession to the GPA, Japan welcomes Albania's submission of 
Replies to the Checklist of Issues to the Secretariat this July.  
Japan looks forward to receiving the initial offer for accession soon and would like to know 
the current status of the preparation for the offer and the expected date of its submission.  
 
Answer:  Currently, Albania is preparing the answers to the questions submitted by the GPA 
member states, following the submission of Replies to the Checklist of Issues to the 
Secretariat.  As also explained by the Albanian delegation during the bilateral meetings, WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 27 - 
 
  Albanian authorities are currently working for the preparation of the Initial offer on the basis 
of the last offer submitted by North  Macedonia  and well accepted by GPA parties.  
The economic offer is intended to be submitted as soon as practicable.  
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 28 - 
 
  SINGAPORE  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE Secretariat Report  
 
QUESTION:  
 
2.5 E-commerce  
 
Page 27 -28 (Para 2.44 -2.45)  
1. The WTO Secretariat Report notes that while Albania's electronic signature usage 
remains voluntary, over 72,000 signatures have been issued by the private sector in the 
period 2016 -2023. Would Albania be able to elaborate further on the factors that have 
contributed to the sharp increase of electronic signature usage, as well as if there are 
plans to drive adoption rates in Albania?  
 
Answer:  The electronic signature for business is an electronic service offered on  the e-Albania 
portal and through which the cost for business, in relation to the state but also in the business -
to-business relation, is significantly reduced every day. Businesses already exchange 
electronically signed documents with full legal value onl ine, and there is no need for physical 
appearances or sending physical letters.  
 
With the electronic signature, a solution has been given to many of the subjects' problems 
regarding the steps of the various procedures that they followed in their daily acti vities. For 
special services, the subjects had to appear near the counters of the institutions to carry out 
the procedures, but thanks to the electronic signature, it has become possible to close them 
completely online, saving time and avoiding bureaucrati c procedures.  
 
The main factor that has influenced the increase in the use of electronic signatures over the 
years is the automation of processes for the provision of online services through the e -Albania 
portal, where for many services it is required that  the representatives of the applying entities 
be provided with an electronic signature in advance to complete the application process.  
 
The electronic signature has been offered remotely since 2020 through the electronic signature 
platform developed by AKS HI. This service is currently integrated in 25 IT systems and is used 
by public and private sector employees.  
 
In the private sector, it is used by the administrators of private entities to make the 
registration in the Register of Beneficial Owners, the su bmission of annual balances to the 
National Business Center, for the initial registration of the natural person at the National 
Business Center, which is offered as a service for Albanian citizens or foreigners who want to 
exercise commercial economic acti vity. Also, industrial property services such as patents on 
inventions and utility models, topography of semiconductor products, trademarks and service 
marks, industrial designs and geographical indications require that at the end of the 
application, the c ompleted form is signed by the citizen or entity that is applying.  
 
Professionals of professions regulated by Law  No. 10171, dated 22  October  2009 "For 
regulated professions in the Republic of Albania" such as engineer, architect, doctor and 
pharmacist, bu siness administrators, technical managers, can apply and be equipped with an 
electronic signature. The category of engineers and architects use this service for various 
applications that are carried out in the building permit system, which is also an elect ronic 
service in the e -Albania portal: While doctors and pharmacists use it for electronic 
prescriptions for patients.  
 
In addition to the people who use the electronic signature as a function of the online services 
offered on the portal, there is also the  category of notaries who use the signature as a function 
of the procedures they carry out in their offices to complete the documentation of the citizens 
for applications that are carried out near the notary offices. The same applies to Lawyers who WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 29 - 
 
  use the  signature in function of the procedures they carry out in their Law Offices. Also, 
Customs Agents are equipped with an electronic signature for the use of the Customs system.  
 
The use of this service enables the provision and use of electronic documents o nline through 
different systems that interact with each other, expanding the digitization of public services 
and eliminating the printing of documents.  
 
PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
2.2.2 Digitalisation  
 
Page 7 -8 (Para 2.17)  
 
2. The Government Report notes that Albania's e -Albania platform offers " 1,227 online 
services, or 95% of all public services ". Could Albania share which type of online services 
were most rendered, and best practices in this area with other WTO  Member s? 
 
Answer:  All Albanian businesses now have only one online stop to close any action. The 
business in e -Albania practically performs the entire cycle it needs in relation to the state, 
such as opening a new business, applications for permits and licenses, paying taxe s, 
submitting balances, tax payments, various certifications with an electronic seal, NBC extracts, 
executive actions, etc. Also, many other services are available to citizens and businesses to 
perform actions related to their daily work, greatly facilitat ing their activities, saving time and 
money.  
 
The services of the National Business Center are offered electronically through the e -Albania 
government portal with simple procedures, within short deadlines and at no cost to the 
business. This has made these  services have a positive impact on the business environment 
and a high number of applications.  
 
Tax, social insurance and cadastre services also have a high usability and positive impact on 
business results.  
 
The most used services of the e -albania portal  for the year 2022 that have facilitated the 
activity of subjects saving time and money are as follows:  
 
No. Name of the service  Institution service provider  
1 Simple/Historical Extract (Business)  National Business Center (NCB)  
2 Registration certificate  National Business Center (NCB)  
3 Application for devices with electronic signature 
for employees and tax -paying entities  National Information Society Agency  
4 Application for electronic certificate for the 
fiscalization project  National Information Society Agency  
5 Application for the Agricultural Fuel Scheme  Agricultural and Rural Development Agency  
6 Social security and health contributions  General Directorate of Taxes  
7 Payroll of social security, health, and 
employment tax contributions (eSig25)  General Directorate of Taxes  
8 Application for notification of temporary 
suspension of activity  National Business Center (NCB)  
9 Application for issuance of property certificate  State Cadastre Agency  
10 Application for issuance of certificates 
(negative/positive)  State Cadastre Agency  
11 Application for issuing a copy of the property 
card State Cadastre Agency  
12 Extract for the data registered in the Register of 
Beneficial Owners  National Business Center (NCB)  
13 Application for deregistration of the natural 
person  National Business Center (NCB)  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 30 - 
 
  No. Name of the service  Institution service provider  
14 Application for Building Permits (e -Permits)  Territory Development Agency  
15 Issuance of license/permit title  National Business Center (NCB)  
16 Activity activation request  National Business Center (NCB)  
 
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 31 - 
 
  TÜRKİYE 
THE GOVERNMENT REPORT  
 
2.3.5 Public -private dialogue pg. 11, para. 2.39 
According to the Government Report,  "the Investment Council (IC), established by the DC M No.  294, 
dated 8  April 2015, with the support of EBRD, has been very active at promoting public -private 
dialogue on initiatives relating to the investment climate in broad terms. Since 2016, the Investment 
Council held 28 meetings that addressed specific business issues and issued 295 recommendations 
(2015 -22), based on a prior thorough analysis prepared by the IC secretariat team after a careful 
(i) research on national and international reports, (ii)  inputs from direct meetings with private sect or 
representatives and experts, (iii)  relevant Albanian Investment Council survey data, and (iv)  team 
analysis. The implementation rate of IC's recommendations is at 43%. The total recommendations 
issued in the meetings are categorized in six pillars: (i)  Strategic, (ii)  Institutional, (iii)  Legal, 
(iv) Transparency related, (v)  Policy and (vi)  Awareness ". 
 
Question (1):   
Could Albania please provide detailed information about the recommendations regarding 
investments issued by the Investment Council (IC), which was established by the DCM 
No. 294, dated 8  April  2015? 
 
Answer:  The overall information regarding the status and progress of IC recommendations, 
is continuously published in both languages at https://www.investment.com.al/monitoring -
reports/  and https://www.investment.com.al/facts -figures/ . 
 
3. Trade Policy Developments, 3.2. Trade Policy Making and Coordination, pg. 15 
para.  3.30 
It is stated in the Government Report that " The main policy document on IPR is the National Strategy 
of Intellectual Property ( NSIP). This strategy covers a five -year period. Since last Policy Review it 
has been implemented all the objectives set at the NSIP 2016 -2020. With the technical assistance 
of WIPO, the new NSIP 2022 – 2025 was approved with the Decision of Council of Mini sters No.  350 
of 26/05/2022 "On the approval of the National Strategy for Intellectual Property, 2022 – 2025". 
This new strategy clearly defines the commitments of each institution included in the institutional 
chain of implementation of these rights in th e Republic of Albania ". 
 
Question (2):  
Could Albania provide information on what this technical assistance of WIPO covers?  
 
Answer:  The drafting of the National Strategy on Intellectual Property 2022 -2025 was 
supported by the technical assistance of WIPO.  So, this means that the whole process of all 
the interviews conducted by the stakeholders is leaded by GDIP (General Directorate of 
Industrial Property) in cooperation with WIPO. A national and international expert was 
contracted by the WIPO which both ex perts has done the preliminary report and the final 
assessment report (based in the online interviews from all the stakeholder's part of this 
process) to serve as a base for the drafting of the National Strategy. All this process is carried 
out online due to the pandemic situation of COVID 19. As well the event for launching the 
National strategy on IP (launched in October  2022) was supported by WIPO. Some activities 
which are part of the action plan of this strategical document will be supported in coopera tion 
with WIPO.  
 
THE SECRETARIAT REPORT  
 
Pg 7 para.11.  
According to the Secretariat Report,  "Aimed at reducing investment -related risks, a Strategic 
Investment Law establishes specific procedures for domestic and foreign investors ".  
 
2.4.1 Regulatory framework pg. 24 para.2.28.  
It is mentioned in the report that "According to the Strategic Investment Law (Law No. 55/2015), 
described in the previous Review and not significantly amended during the review period, establishes 
specific procedures  for domestic and foreign investors to simplify administrative procedures and 
reduce certain investment -related risks. … A new Investment Law to replace both the Law on Foreign WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Investments and the Strategic Investment Law, which includes provisions on dome stic investment, 
is being drafted and is expected to be approved this year ". 
 
Question (3):   
Could Albania please provide further detailed information on the implementation 
procedures of "Strategic Investment Law" as well as further detailed information on  the 
new Investment Law mentioned in Regulatory framework page 24 para.2.28.?  
 
Answer:  Please find below  a detailed information on explains the procedures of strategic 
investments, according to the provisions of the strategic investment law. Since the 
implantation of the law, there have been granted 43 titles of strategic investors, in different 
sectors of the economy, such as: tourism, agriculture, energy and Technological Economic 
Development Area. As for the new investment law, a working group is working  on the process 
and gathering information on the best international practices to include as part of the Albanian 
legislation.  
 
STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS AND THE SELECTION CRITERIA  
"Strategic investment " are investments made in one of the strategic sectors.  
In the power and mining industry  an investment must be:  
• equal to or higher than EUR  30,000,000 (thirty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted Procedure"  
• equal to or higher than EUR  50,000,000 (fifty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special Procedure"  
In the transport, electronic communications infrastructure and urban waste industry  
an inve stment must be:  
• equal to or higher than EUR  30,000,000 (thirty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted Procedure"  
• equal to or higher than EUR  50,000,000  (fifty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special Procedure"  
In the tourism (tourist structures) industry  an investment must be:  
• equal to or higher than EUR  5,000,000 (five million) and create at least 80 new jobs 
for an investor/project to receiv e the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted 
Procedure"  
• equal to or higher than EUR  50,000,000 (fifty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special Procedure"  
In the agriculture (establishment of the large agricultural farm model) and fisheries  
an investment must be:  
• equal to or higher than EUR  3,000,000 (three million) and create at least 50 new jobs 
for an investor/project to receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted 
Procedure"   
• equal to or higher than EUR  50,000,000 (fifty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special Procedure"  
For the sector "economic areas", including its sub -sectors investment must be:  
• equal to or higher th an EUR  5,000,000 (five million) for an investor/project to receive 
the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted Procedure"  
• equal to or higher than EUR  50,000,000 (fifty million) for an investor/project to 
receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special Procedure";  
In the development priority areas an investment must be:  
• equal to or higher than EUR  1,000,000 (one million) and create at least 150 new jobs 
for an investor/project to receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Assisted 
Procedure"  
• equal to or higher than EUR  10,000,000 (ten million) and create at least 600 new jobs 
for an investor/project to receive the status "Strategic Investment/Investor, Special 
Procedure"  
The Status of strategic investor/investment —special procedure may also be granted to 
investors/inves tment projects  that, regardless not being planned to be executed in one of 
the sectors listed above, will have an envisaged total capital investment amount equal to or 
higher than EUR  100,000,000 (one hundred million).  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  WHO CAN APPLY  
1. The Ministry of lin e, responsible for an investment project, can apply to obtain the status 
of "Potential Strategic Project ";  
2. The Investor who proposes the investment project  can apply to obtain the status of 
"Potential Strategic Project";  
3. The Investor who propose th e investment project & will execute the project  can 
apply to obtain the status of "Strategic Investor/Strategic Investment -Assisted 
Procedure", "Strategic Investor / Strategic Investment - Special Procedure".  
 
APPLICATION PROCEDURES  
1. Application at AIDA  by investor who proposes the investment project  
The application request must be accompanied by an explanatory report on the strategic 
importance of the project and a detailed description of the following items:  
1. The identity of the investor and its pa rtners;  
2. A detailed description of the investment project;  
3. A detailed description of the works to be carried out and services to be provided under 
the investing project;  
4. A detailed analysis of the timelines needed to implement the investing proj ect and the 
phases for its execution;  
5. A description of the investment project that refers specifically to the development of 
new technologies and protection of environment;  
6. A financial analysis of the whole investing project and an analysis of the financial 
expenses that will be needed for the implementation of every phase of the project;  
7. A detailed analysis of the impact that works and services shall have on the envir onment 
and urban plans;  
8. A detailed analysis of the expected economic and social impact of the executed investing 
project;  
9. An analysis of the benefits of public interest foreseen for the Albanian state from the 
execution of the project;  
 
2.The Inve stor who will execute the proposed investment project can apply to obtain 
the status of "Strategic Investor/Strategic Investment -Assisted Procedure", "Strategic 
Investor / Strategic Investment - Special Procedure", as follows:  
The application request must  be accompanied by:  
1. the identity of the investor/Investors/partners;  
2. the business plan;  
3. the financial plan;  
4. the work program me and the deadlines provided, detailed according to the phases of 
the project and to the corresponding actions;  
5. the impact assessment of the project in terms of social, economic and strategic potential;  
6. feasibility study;  
7. the economic, social and operational benefits as well as the level of employment 
expected from the realization of investment project;  
8. the list of all measures, incentives and investment support services that the investor 
requires from the Albanian Government for the realization of the investment project;  
9. the documentation which proves the financial capacity for the realization of th e 
investment project as a means of guarantee. This documentation should contain 
financial data, which prove convincingly and clearly the capacity of the investor for the 
realization of the investment, in the amount not less than 10% of the total value of t he 
investment.  
The documentation that proves this requirement can be:  
• The balance sheets of the last three years, or  
• Financing and crediting by the banking and financial institutions (domestic or foreign), 
or  
• A financial guarantee issued by banking or financial institutions (domestic or foreign).  
10. Auto Declaration of the interested investor, through which the commercial entity takes 
over and guarantees the authenticity of the data and documents submitted in the file.  
11. A written authorization by the investor, which authorizes AIDA to carry out all the 
necessary verifications on the data presented in the file;  
12. A written consent of the investor for the publication of the general details of the 
proposed the investment, except of the data conside red as confidential, which can not WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  be made public or shown to third parties, and which should be clearly defined by the 
interested party;  
13. The receipt of the applicable fee.  
14. The interest investor has to prove through documentation also that:  
• is not any under any bankruptcy process and / or liquidation;  
• has not been convicted by a final court decision related to the professional 
activity;  
• the capital and assets are not s ubject to any mandatory execution procedures by 
the bailiff service;  
• is in compliance with the obligations related to the tax payment;  
• has fulfilled its obligations related to the payment of social security contributions.  
 
BENEFITS  
Assisted Procedure  
• fast track procedures;  
• land consolidation;  
• supporting programs;  
• assistive infrastructure;  
• use of public assets for strategic investment project execution.  
 
Special Procedure  
• Expropriation of immovable assets, private property, for the development and 
execution of the strategic investment project;  
• Investment Contract endorsement by the Parliament.  
 
Tariffs  
• Administrative Service Tariff – 70,000 ALL  
• Procedures ' Management Tariff – 15,000 ALL  
 
 
 
WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  2.4 Investment regime pg. 24 para.2.23  
According to the Secretariat Report,  "The Ministry of Finance and Economy designs policies affecting 
the investment and business environment, with a large number of line Ministries also involved in the 
regulation of specific economic activities. Activities  were most notably guided by the Business 
Development and Investment Strategy (BIDS) 2014 -20, which was replaced by a new strategy 
for 2021-27 in 2021. The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) is the official investment 
agency in Albania (Section 3.3.1), also providing aftercare services to investors ". 
 
pg.24 para.2.25  
Also it is mentioned in the report that "the Government undertook a number of reforms to improve 
the investment and business environment ". 
 
Question (4):   
Could Albania please elabor ate on the steps taken to improve the investment environment 
in Albania?  
 
Answer:  
 
Deregulation reform  
Deregulation reform aims to radically change the lives of citizens, facilitating the procedures 
for public services, simplifying the procedures, eliminating unnecessary documents, permits, 
licenses or authorizations that state institutions require in exchange for providing services, 
without compromising safety, life and health, competition or market protection. At the same 
time, public services and state administration get closer to the citizen and entrepreneur, 
responding in real time to their needs. One of the challenges related to deregulation, remains 
digitization and the use of artificial intelligence measures which are in the proce ss of being 
implemented by the Albanian government, in order to guarantee transparency and reduce the 
risk of corruption. Many documents can be obtained directly from the electronic platform 
administered by the state institutions themselves, through intera ction with the electronic 
platform e -Albania, or interaction and electronic communication with the relevant state 
institutions.  
 
Regulatory impact assessment  
As previously reported, the Regulatory Impact Assessment Unit (RIA Unit) at the Office of 
Prime Mi nister verifies and assesses, since January  2019, the regulatory impact assessments 
prepared for the all the draft laws that fulfil RIA criteria. The RIA Unit is focused to support 
the line ministries in the preparation of the RIA reports, examining, revie wing, and checking 
the quality of RIAs. The RIA Unit provides necessary suggestions during the entire drafting of 
RIAs, reviews these reports during the public consultation phase and when the legislative 
package is submitted for approval to the Office of P rime Minister. In total, 140 regulatory 
impact assessment reports have been confirmed by this Unit.  
 
Business  exit 
To reduce  and improve  the regulatory  and administrative  burden  during  2023,  the Council  of 
Ministers  approved  the Decision  of Council  of Ministers  No 294 of 17 May 2023 "On 
determining  the criteria  and the rules for the submission  the requests  to act as a bankruptcy  
administrator  and the procedure  to give or remove  licenses".  All the process  is administered  
through  an electronic  application  on the website  https://e -albania.al/ . 
 
Inspection  
Legislative framework  
During 2022, Central Inspectorate led the improvement of inspection's standard documents 
for state and local inspectorates, according to legal changes and the need for effectiveness, 
to reduce the administrative burden, as well as to guarantee the public the preservation with 
transparency and commitment of the natural resources and assets of our country. Al so, state 
inspectorates were equipped with tablets according to their needs in order to conduct online 
inspections through the " e-Inspection " system.  
 
E-Commerce  
Regarding the electronic commerce, through the Order of Minister of Finance and Economy 
No 190  of 18 July 2022 "On the establishment of the Working Group for the drafting of the 
action plan "On the facilitation and development of Electronic Commerce in the Republic of WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Albania" was set up a working group to draft an Action Plan. Currently, the proce ss of drafting 
measures of the action plan of Electronic Commerce is in the phase of collecting contributions, 
comments, suggestions.  
 
Start the "Export readiness / promotion programme" (according to the Albanian 
Export policy 2023 – 2027)  
MFE is working o n drafting the Export Program 2024 – 2027 with the collaboration and strong 
consultation with private and public stakeholders. MoFE has already finali zed a draft export 
program me and has identified the key potential sectors, obstacles and opportunities for  further 
developments. The work for the export program me should continue and follow the 
consultations to enriched with recommendations until the finali zation. Cosolveprogramme Key 
Results (until March  2023): 
• 707 participants in advisory services (about 35% are women -led businesses).  
• 299 businesses received a CoSolve grant (i.e. 42% of the coaching participants).  
• 84% of the MSMEs expressed that the business adjustments helped to stabili ze the 
business (Rd.1 beneficiaries, N=198).  
• 89% of the MSMEs i ncreased employment since participating in CoSolve -19 (656 persons 
newly or again employed)  
 
Training to deliver "Aftercare service" in AIDA  
In order to maintain improve and extend the Aftercare Network and Investor Servicing 
Program  at the local level, 15 staff members of AIDA received training sessions to develop 
partnership with the municipalities of Vora, Kavaja and Kamza and to provide inv estment 
advisory to 35 businesses of the selected cities. The training strengthened the capacities and 
thus fed into the reform efforts of the Albanian Government.  
 
In the period 2022 – 2023, with RisiAlbania contribution, a total of 612 businesses (42% 
owned by women) from the three sectors of Agri -business , Tourism and ICT benefited from 
access to new services, standards, and new markets. Of these, 80 businesses were certified 
to new international quality standards.  
 
"Business to Business" Platform  
The Bu siness to Business (B2B) platform is an active network that offers the opportunity for 
successful collaborations and investments between businesses. This platform is a facilitating 
mechanism that creates opportunities for fruitful collaborations and to exp and contacts in the 
business world. On the B2B online platform of the AIDA website, as of 18  September  2023, 
1,092  profiles of Albanian companies are published, with the aim of making the companies 
visible to potential partners for doing business ( https://aida.gov.al/b2b/ ). 
 
"Made in Albania" Campaign  
"Made in Albania" is the promotional campaign of the Albanian Investment Development 
Agency (AIDA), in support of Albanian businesses and "Made in Albania" products. The 
campaign was launched in July  2020 and up to 18 September  2023, 260 local products are 
published and promoted on the institution's website and social networks. As part of the 
initiative to promote "Made in Albania" produ cts, the Albanian Investment Development 
Agency published "Choose Local", the first catalogue of "Made in Albania" products 
(https://aida.gov .al/sq/te -reja-publikime/publikime/1091 -katalogu -vjetor -i-produkteve -
made -in-albania ). 
 
Publication of informative brochures  
During 2023, AIDA has published new guides, respectively:  
• The internationali zation of Albanian M SME-s (Certifications) Guide.  
• A short guide on fair participation for Albanian MSMEs.  
• The annual catalogue of "Made in Albania" products.  
 
These brochures contain summari zed information about the sectors, key figures, the 
challenges of each sector and thei r importance in the economy. Sectoral brochures are subject 
to periodic updates.  
 
National and International Fairs  
One of the functions of AIDA is to support and facilitate participation in national and 
international fairs for Albanian MSMEs. During 2023, AIDA participated in the following fairs:  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  National Fairs  
• "Agriculture Days" Fair, 27 – 29 April 2023, Lushnje, Albania.  
• "Food and Drinks Expo 2023" ExpoCity, 23 – 25 May 2023, Tirana, Albania.  
 
International Fairs  
• "FoodExpo" Fair, 18 – 20 March  2023, Athens, Greece.  
• "ISPO MUNICH FAIR 2023", 28 – 30 November  2023, Munich, Germany  
 
AIDA will participate in the ISPO Munich Fair in November  2023. Five exporting companies 
from Albania will represent Albania, under the "Made in Albania" brand. ISPO is on e of the 
most important international fairs in the textiles industry, with participating suppliers and 
buyers from all over the world.  
 
The Access to Finance Platform  
AIDA, in the framework of "Increasing access to finance for MSMEs" (BIDS 2021 – 2027), wi th 
the support of the EBRD has created the platform "Access to Finance" to serve MSMEs Albanian 
companies, which want to expand and invest in their activity by taking advantage of the 
financial opportunities offered by the market, with grants, loans or oth er financing initiatives. 
The platform "Access to Finance" was launched on May  2021 and it is hosted under the AIDA 
domain. In this platform MSMEs can find updated information on financial instruments that 
are available to support them from the Albanian go vernment and donors. Updated information 
on various calls for applications from Albanian SMEs are maintained and managed by AIDA 
(www.aida.gov.al ). Platform Statistics: The platform is  updated on a weekly basis and there 
is an average of 3 -4 calls per month published. Typically, calls that focus on actions related 
to innovation, technology and education are the most visited. As of 18  September  2023, 116 
calls for application have been p ublished on the platform and the main webpage has been 
visited a total of 61,408 times.  Most frequent users come from Albania, the United  States  of 
America, Italy, France and Kosovo. The predominating age of users is 25 -34 years old (33.5%) 
and 18 -24 years  old (27.5%). There is no significant gap in terms of gender, with 54.15% of 
users being male and 45.85% female.  
 
Organisation and participation in national and international fairs  
In the framework of promoting exports and promoting Albanian businesses to international 
markets, AIDA periodically supports Albanian companies with participation in national and 
international fairs. Participation in international fairs is of particular importance as it allows 
Albanian companies to create new partnerships, create  export channels, etc. AIDA handles 
everything, from the identification of the fairs, booking, and designing of the stand, to the 
participation. Commonly, five companies join the AIDA stand per fair. Although the fairs where 
AIDA participates usually perta in to the sectors of agro -processing, medicinal plants, textiles, 
and tourism, the agency is always considering new sectors in order to represent as many 
businesses as possible.  
 
3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements pg. 32, para. 3.20  
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that  ''Albania continues to primarily use transactional values 
for import customs declaration processes, accounting for 93% of customs declarations during 2022, 
compared to 91% in 2017. The remaining declarations used al ternative valuation methods as spelled 
out in the Customs Code.29 Since 2018, a national valuation database can be used to assess risks 
related to declared values.30 No binding advance customs valuation system is in place. '' 
 
Question (5):  
Could Albania provide inform when all transactional values for import customs declaration 
will primarily use?  
 
Answer:  Every  year, the transaction  method  is being  used more and more.  This method  is 
applied  to all imports  from EU countries  with which  we have cooperation  agreements,  and for 
those  countries  with which  we do not have trade agreements,  other methods  are applied,  from 
II to VI, as well as for stock market  goods  for which  the values  are applied  updated  according  
to the relevant  bulletins.  
The trend shows  that the application  of the transaction  is increasing.  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 38 - 
 
  3.1.4.1 Other duties and charges pg. 36, para. 3.29  
It is stated in the Secretariat  Report that "' Albania has bound other duties and charges within the 
meaning of Article  II:1(b) of the GATT  1994 at zero. Albania imposes certain fees and charges for 
services rendered, however. Among those, customs levies "scanning fees" of EUR  22 for each 
customs declaration valued above EUR  1,000, and a fee of EUR  5 for those valued below, regardless 
of whether the consignments are actually scanned. Scanning has been undertaken since 2015 under 
a Concession Agreement. Other fees include parking fees (lowered in 2019 and free for the first 60 
minutes), a sealing fee, and storage fees for the use of customs  warehouses. A fee for the printing 
of certain customs forms was removed in 2019 ".  
 
Question (6):   
Could Albania provide detailed information about the legal basis of "scanning fees" for 
services rendered, parking fees and a sealing fee  and inform whether and when this 
implementation will cease to apply.  
 
Answer:  Scanning:  
•Is approved Law No 74/2015 of 9  July 2015 "On approval of agreements between the Ministry 
of Finance, as the contracting authority, and companies "S2 Albania" l.t.d a nd "Rapiscan 
Systems" INC "On the settlement by negotiation of disagreements" and "On amendment of 
the concession agreement" by reducing the scanning fee.  
 
•Is approved Law No 118/2015 "On an addition to Law No 74/2015 "On the approval of 
agreements between the Ministry of Finance, as the contracting authority, and companies 
"S2 Albania", l.t.d. and "Rapiscan Systems", INC, of 29  October  2015", enabling exemption 
from scanning tariff for some specific customs procedures by avoiding charging  twice or 
more times the same commodity, harmonized with the customs procedures for which is 
needed a customs declaration.  
 
For services rendered on fee and charges they are applied based on the INSTRUCTION N0. 
10693/2, date 1  July 2019 ON DETERMINATION OF  TARIFFS FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF 
SPECIAL SERVICES AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION BY CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES which can be 
found at the link below: https://dogana.gov.al/english/ dokument/1854/instruction -no-
10693 -2-of-172019 . 
 
3.1.4.2 Internal taxes collected at the border  pg. 36, para.3.31  
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "In addition to VAT and excise duties, Customs also collects 
additional national taxes for goods that are imported. They are (i)  a "packaging tax", paid for plastic 
and glass packaging; (ii)  a turnover tax for fuels used by fishing vessels; and (iii)  a carbon tax of 
ALL 3 per  kg for coal, kerosene, solar, m azut, and petroleum coke, ALL  3 per litre of gasoline, and 
ALL 1.5 per litre of petrol. There are also taxes on the import of milk powder, milk whey, and milk 
cream (also applying to production); on the import of homogenized beverages (also applying to 
production); and for fuel used for vessels for tourism and entertainment purposes going outside 
Albanian territorial waters ". 
 
Question (7):   
Could Albania provide detailed information about the legal basis of a packaging tax, a 
turnover tax for fuels used by fishing vessels , a carbon tax of ALL  3 per kg for coal, 
kerosene, solar, mazut, and petroleum coke, taxes for fuel used for vessels for tourism 
and inform whether and when this implementation will cease to apply.  
 
Answer:  Law No. 9975, date 28  July 2008, "On national taxes", as amended, which is part of 
the domestic fiscal legislation, has set out:  
 
A plastic  packaging tax rate at 35 ALL/kg , on plastic packaging imported according to chapter 
39, of the NKM since January  2019. Also, a glass packaging tax rate is foreseen at 5 ALL/kg 
since January  2019. 
-A carbon tax rate of ALL 3 per lit re for gasoil, ALL 3 per kilogram for coal, ALL 3 per lit re for 
solar, ALL 3 per  litre for mazut, ALL 3 per lit re for kerosene and ALL 3 per kilogram fo r 
petroleum coke since January  2017. 
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 39 - 
 
  -A fuel used for vessels for tourism tax rate at ALL 40 per  litre which is into force since 
January  2022. 
Law no. 61/2012 "On excise duties in the Republic of Albania", as amended, which is part of 
the domestic fiscal legislation, has set out:  
 
- Exemption from excise duty for Fuel used by fishing vessels;  
- Excise duty of ALL 37/kg on Heavy oils as fuel (fuel, solar, mazut);  
- Excise duty of 0 ALL/kg for Coal;  
- Excise duty of 2 ALL/kg for Petroleum coke;  
- Excise duty of 20 ALL/lit re for Kerosene, Fuels, Kerosene type.  
 
Question (8) :  
Could Albania also inform about whether Albania implement a carbon tax which put a 
price domestically for coal, kerosene, solar, mazut, and petroleum coke, gasoline and 
petrol  and what the carbon price is per metric kg/litre of coal/petrol, gasoline, kerosene, 
mazut in 2023 ? 
 
Answer:  As mentioned above in the question (7), Law No. 9975, date 28  July 2008, "On 
national taxes", as amended, foresees a carbon tax rate of ALL 1.5 per litre for gasoline, 
ALL 3 per litre for gasoil, ALL 3 per kilogram for coal, ALL 3 per litre for solar, ALL 3 litre for 
mazut, ALL 3 per litre for kerosene and ALL 3 per kilogram for petroleum coke.  
 
3. Trade Policy Developments, 3.3. Measures Affecting Production and Trade pg. 57, 
para.  3.132  
 
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "The Customs authorities also have the right to investigate 
IPR infringements ex officio120, and rights holders can submit an AfA when notified in case  Customs 
has detained goods in such cases. Based on AfAs and subsequent investigations, Customs suspended 
the release of 3,000 products suspected of infringing IPR in 2021, a decrease from the more than 
23,000 products in 2020.121 Between 2016 and 2022, Cu stoms also destroyed counterfeit goods 
valued at ALL 9.9 million (Table 3.14) ". 
 
Question (9):  
Could Albania provide clarification on whether the Customs authorities need a court 
decision in order to suspend the release products?  
 
Answer:  In accordance with Article  384, point 3 of DCM No.  651/10.11.201, we quote:  
 
When the declarant or the holder of the goods has not given his consent in writing for the 
destruction of goods and when it is not estimated that he has given his consent to the 
destruction, within the term of defined in the letter "c", of the first paragraph, of point 1, the 
customs authorities immediately notify the holder of the decision. The holder of the decision, 
within 10 (ten) working days or 3 (three) working days in the case  of perishable goods, from 
the notification of the suspension of the release or detention of the goods, must start the 
judicial proceedings, by presenting a copy of the indictment, submitted to the competent court 
to decide whether an intellectual property  right has been violated required by the right s holder  
and/or legal representative to go to court to verify the infringement of intellectual property 
rights.  
 
4. Trade Policies by Sector, 4.2. Mining and Energy pg. 72, para. 4.85  
It is stated in the Secretariat Report that "In December  2020, the Parliament adopted Law 
No. 155/2020 on Climate Change. This Law plans on, inter alia, submitting the country's Nationally 
Determined Contribution (NDC) on reducing GHG emissions to the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); integrating mitigation and adaptation issues into 
legislation, strategies, and programmes; and creating a comprehensive legal and inter -institutional 
framework for climate action at the national level. A rev ised NDC was submitted to the UNFCCC in 
October  2021. It commits to an unconditional emissions reduction target of 20.9% by 2030 
compared to the "business as usual" scenario. This is an increase compared to the first NDC, which 
aimed to reduce emissions by  11.5% by 2030 compared to 2016 levels.43 The Law also includes 
provisions for monitoring, reporting, and verifying GHG emissions, and the foundation for the 
transposition and implementation of the Emission Trading Scheme Directive, as anticipated by WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 40 - 
 
  signing the Sofia Declaration in October  2020. This Declaration endorses the European  Union 's 
Climate Law also for Western Balkans."  
 
Question (10):  
Is there any provision regarding administrative penalty or taxation for the companies not 
reaching emission red uction target in this law?  
 
Answer:  We haven't yet amended any provision regarding taxation for companies not 
reaching reduction target in the law mentioned.  
 
Question (11):   
Could Albania provide detailed information whether and when Albania  is planning to 
implement Emission Trading Scheme Directive and align its regulation with EU Emission 
Trading System (ETS)?  
 
Answer:  Emission Trading Scheme Directive is under discussion regarding taxation, and at 
this moment we can't yet provide further information.  
 
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 41 - 
 
  UKRAINE  
PART I: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SECRETARIAT REPORT (WT/TPR/S/449)  
1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT  
1.7 Developments in trade and investment  
1.7.1 Trends and patterns in merchandise and services trade  
Trade in goods and intermediate products  
 
Page 16 (Para 1.24)  
The Report states that some firms in Albania appear to be integrated into regional value chains. 
Roughly 20% of imports fall under the inward processing regime (valued at EUR  1.6 billion in 2022), 
and more than half (54%) of total exports were classified as re -exports (valued at EUR  2.2 billion 
in 2022), indicating the participation of companies in value chains.  
 
Question:  
1. Would Albania kindly share its opinion, which economic measures, structural 
reforms an d improvements in Albania's trade policy, implemented during the period under 
review, have led to a more active participation of Albanian companies in value chains?  
 
Answer:  As Albanian has outlined at the Government Reports, during the review period, 
Albania has taken important reforms to trade facilitation.  
 
The most main structural reforms consist in, among others, reforms in the energy sector, 
digitalization, anticorruption, justice system  and tourism sector. Other important reforms were 
undertaken in the areas of customs,  anti-informality or government procurement. 
Transparency of public authorities, digitalization of the  public services at the level of 95% of 
the total, improvement of the e -procurement system and  functionalities, strengthen ing the 
integrity of central public institutions by adopting of integrity plans,  enforcing of the 
cooperation of the criminal procedures of the corruption investigation,  raising of the  awareness 
and education against corruption are main field of a successf ul reform against corruption  
through the years. Fight against informality has continued through introducing  IT system and  
digitalization.  
 
Albanian government has approved the Business and Investment Development Strategy 
2022-2027 that contains different m easures to increase the value chain of Albanian 
companies.  
In order to untap the trade potential in the Western Balkan region, Albania is part of 
implementation of the Action Plan for the Common Regional Market  
Albania i working on further phasing in and a ccelerated integration to individual EU programs 
and policies, as defined in the EU accession negotiations' methodology. The further 
implementation of the  Economic and Investment Plan of the European Commission for the 
Western Balkans, which aims to integr ate the region more closely with the EU, focusing on 
trade in goods, electronic commerce, and integration in sustainable value chains, is deemed 
a valuable future step.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures affecting production and trade  
3.3.3 Sanitary and phytosanitary requirements  
 
Page 45 (Para 3.75)  
The Report informs that, as a result of amendments to the Food Law in 2022, consignments of food 
of animal origin are no longer inspected by border veterinary food safety inspectors, but by those 
responsible for the control of food and animal feed that is the National Food Authority (NFA). Such 
controls are usually carried out at border inspection posts according to the provisions of the Food 
Law and include inspections of food labels and control of product labels. Imports falling under a 
cooperation agreement in the Western Balkans are controlled at destination point. The NFA licenses 
all food business operators as a precondition to import or export, and also those that produce food 
or fee d. Imports of animal products are only permitted from establishments and countries that are 
listed for export to the European  Union  unless there is a prior agreement in place.  
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 42 - 
 
  Question:  
2. Could Albania, please, elaborate more on the permits needed for im ports of animal 
products, as well as on control and licensing functions of the NFA? In particular, Ukraine 
would appreciate it if Albania could kindly provide more details on the requirements and 
procedures that are necessary for obtaining permits for impo rts of eggs and egg products 
to the Republic of Albania, for example, from Ukraine.  
 
Answer:  Food imported into the Republic of Albania is released to the market when it meets 
the requirements of law No. 9863, dated 28  January  2008 "On Food" as amended and of the 
legislation in force. In the case of special international agreements between the Republic of 
Albania and the exporting country, food imported to the Republic of Albania is released to the 
market when it meets the requirements defined in  these agreements.  
The load must be accompanied by veterinary health certificates in accordance with Article  18 
of Law No. 9863, dated 28  January  2008 "On Food" as amended. All importing entities must 
be equipped with the relevant license. The product which is imported/exported must be from 
countries and enterprises authorized to carry out the export.  
Regarding the import of eggs and egg products, it is necessary to approve the veterinary 
certificate model referred to in article 18, point 3, law  No. 9863, dated 28  January  2008 "On 
Food" as amended. In case there is no agreement, according to point 2 of this article, 
recognition of certificates and other documents is carried out by order of the Minister of 
Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection , with the proposal of the National Food Authority. 
The Republic of Albania applies legislation similar to that of the European  Union . The 
requirements for the veterinary certificate are similar to those of the European  Union . 
Competent authorities must ag ree on the fulfil ment of these requirements.  
 
Licensing  
Any entity that performs non -self-economic activities in the field of food, "food production 
and/or trading", must be registered and licensed according to the legislation in force. The 
registration an d licensing procedure is carried out in accordance with: Law No.  9863, dated 
28 January  2008 "On Food" as amended (Article  19), Law no. 131/2015 "On the National 
Business Center", Law No. 10081, dated 23  February  2009 "On Licenses, Authorizations and 
Permi ts in the Republic of Albania" amended, Decision no. 538, dated 26  May 2009 "On 
licenses and permits that are handled by or through the CCB and some other common by -law 
rules" as amended, as well as other legal/by -law acts in force.  
 
Entities that carry ou t wholesale activities have a legal obligation to be licensed, while entities 
that carry out retail activities are not licensed, i.e. they are not obliged to obtain a license 
from the National Business Center, but these entities are obliged to notify the R egional 
Directorate of the National Agency of the relevant food, for the place of performance of the 
activity and its nature, no later than 30 days from the beginning of the retail activity (Referred 
to DCM No.  538, dated 26  May 2009 "On licenses and permi ts that are handled by or through 
the Center National Law on Business and some other common by -laws" amended, for licenses 
of the third group (belonging to AKU); Field II, FOOD AND HEALTH, Category II.I, 
PRODUCTION AND/OR TRADING OF FOODS, its point 19, th e activity with Code II.I.B: 
"Wholesale of food of animal origin (for humans)",  
 
Consignments imported into Albania must have undergone documentation, identity and 
physical control under the responsibility of inspectors of the Border Inspection Point befor e 
being released for free circulation. The customs authorities carry out the customs procedures 
for the food cargo, after the inspectors, at the border inspection points, have given the 
approval.  
 
Page 45 (Para 3.76)  
According to the Report, imports, expo rts, and transit of live animals, veterinary medical products, 
and non -food animal products require a veterinary certificate and are subject to veterinary control 
by border veterinary inspectors of the NFA.  
 
Questions:  
3. Considering amendments on the cont rol procedures done to the Veterinary Services 
Law and Food Law in 2022, could Albania, please, clarify whether there were any changes 
to the form of a veterinary certificate needed, for instance, for imports of dry and wet WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 43 - 
 
  fodder to the Republic of Albani a? Would Albania, kindly provide the link where the form 
of a veterinary certificate is available online in English, if it is possible?  
 
Answer:  The form of veterinary certificates has not changed after the changes made in the 
Law on Veterinary Services an d the Law on Food in 2022  
 
4. What is the algorithm of the initiating  process regarding veterinary certificates and 
what steps should be done by parties for its completion?  
 
Answer:  Referring to the law No. 9863, dated 28  January  2008 "On Food" as amended, the 
cargo of imported food is accompanied by certificates, in accord ance with international 
requirements, for the safety of imported food.  
 
For imported foods, cargo security certificates can be recognized in support of bilateral and 
multilateral agreements, issued by the competent authority of the exporting country.  
 
In case there is no agreement, according to point 2 of this article, recognition of certificates 
and other documents is carried out by order of the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Consumer 
Protection, with the proposal of the National Food Authority.  
 
Certificates and other security documents must be in the Albanian language and in the 
language of the country they come from.  
 
PART II: QUESTIONS REGARDING THE REPORT  BY ALBANIA (WT/TPR/G/449)  
2 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT2.3 Private sector development  
 
Page 10 ( Para 2.30)  
The Report informs that Business and Investment Development Strategy 2021 -2027 was adopted 
in August  2021, replacing the Business Development and Investment Strategy (BIDS) 2014 -2020.  
 
Question:  
5. Could Albania, please, describe the main achiev ements of implementation of the 
Business Development and Investment Strategy (BIDS) 2014 -2020 and preliminary 
results of measures, which are being taken under the new Business and Investment 
Development Strategy 2021 -2027?  
 
Answer: The order for the interinstitutional  working group for BIDS monitoring is drafted and 
submitted for adoption by the Council of Ministers.   
The Order of PM aims to establish the monitoring inter institutional working group which will 
report systematically the implementation of the  measures according to the area of 
responsibility.   
 
2.3.1 Improving business environment  
 
Page 10 (Para 2.32)  
The Report mentions that Albania adapted two new laws in 2022, such as: the law on the 
development of micro, small and medium -sized enterprises and the law on start -up. 
 
Question:  
6. Would Albania kindly provide more information about the provisions of the new 
Albanian laws on the development of micro, small and medium -sized enterprises and on 
start -up, clarifying purposes and differen ces of these laws?  
 
Answer:  The Law No 25 of 10  March  2022 "On the support and development of startups" 
aims the support for innovative startups as well as support of the local ecosystem of startups 
and integration with the international ecosystem to encou rage research, and use of innovative 
ideas, as well as models, products, and new processes, which bring innovation in every field 
for economic development.  
 
The Law No 43/2022 of 21  April 2022 "On the development of micro, small and medium sized 
enterprise s" was adopted by the Albanian Parliament and was published in the Official Gazette 
No 76 of 20  May 2022.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 44 - 
 
  The purpose of this Law is to enhance state support policies, as well as to establish a new 
institutional and regulatory framework to support enterpri ses. 
 
For the implementation of the Law No 43/2022 of 21  April 2022, the following legal acts are 
approved:  
• Decision of Council of Ministers No 539 of 29  July 2022 "On the creation, organization, 
functioning, remuneration of the members of the Board evaluating requests, as well as 
the competitive procedure for granting grants". The purpose of this act is to determine 
the rules for the creation, organization of the Evaluation Board, as well as the detailed 
description of the competitive procedure for g rants to micro, small and medium sized 
enterprises, in accordance with the provisions of Article  11 of Law No 43/2022. The 
objective is to enhance the business support services through better policy formulation 
and adequate stakeholder consultation which i s of great importance in order to strengthen 
the business competitiveness. Also, the aim is to improve the transparency in the 
adoption and implementation of legislation particularly by ensuring an effective timely 
consultation of businesses and social par tners on the new legislation affecting their 
operations;  
• Decision of Council of Ministers No 540 of 29  July 2022 "On the determination of the 
measure of the benefit, criteria and special conditions of the benefit for micro, small and 
medium enterprises for  the year 2022". This Decision of Council of Ministers aims to 
support micro, small and medium -sized enterprises in the area of digitalization. 
Digitalization nowadays extends to every aspect of business including: relationship with 
tax authorities or othe r state bodies, suppliers and payments, customers and collections, 
human capital management, operations management, inventory management, social 
networks, marketing, safety, etc. Investing and spending in technology and digitization 
has become necessary fo r businesses to be profitable or to grow. The needs of access to 
finance for business digitization varies based on various factors such as: the number of 
employees, the number of locations where the activity is carried out, typology of services, 
the amount  of customers, the amount and type of data it handles, etc.;  
• Decision of Council of Ministers No 541 of 29  July 2022 "On the criteria for the selection 
of members, as well as on the organization, functioning of the Consultative Council for 
micro, small and  medium -sized enterprises". The purpose of this act is to define the 
criteria for the selection of members, as well as the detailed rules for the organization, 
operation of the Consultative Council for enterprises. The objective is to discuss and 
ensure tr ansparency and putting in place a public and private dialogue to improve the 
business climate.  
 
Categorization of enterprises and calculation of data for micro, small and medium -
sized enterprises  
 
The Guideline of Minister of Finance and Economy No 24 of 1 2 July 2022 "On the method, 
form of declaration of the category of enterprise and calculation of data for micro, small and 
medium -sized enterprise" was approved and published in the Official Gazette.  
 
The purpose of this act is to determine the method and templates of calculating the data for 
the categorization of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) pursuant to Article  5 
and 8 of Law No.  43/2022 "On the development of micro, small and medium enterprises".  
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  UNITED  KINGDOM  
1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT   
1.3 Economic governance, policy direction, and reforms   
 
UK Question 1 :  
Please may Albania explain if it has adopted any trade -related policies, measures, and/or 
programmes as part of the Gender Equality Strategy for 2021 -30, which support wo men's 
economic empowerment and gender equality in trade?  
 
Answer:  The Albanian Government has approved the Gender Equality Strategy 
for 2021-2030. A number of institutions are involved in the implementation of the foreseen 
measures according to the National Strategy for Gender Equality 2021 -2030 and its Action 
Plan, from line ministries, independent institutions, local self -government units, academia, 
civil society organizations as well as international organizations.  
The Strategy consists of four st rategic goals:  
1) The fulfilment of economic and social rights for women, young people, girls and men, 
young people, boys in society and the empowerment of women, young people and girls 
from all groups, aiming at a growth and sustainability of the environment al economy (of 
green), as well as their equal participation in digitization.  
2) Fulfilling the rights of women and men, young women and young men, girls and boys 
from all groups, for equal participation, representation and leadership in political and 
public d ecision -making at the local level.  
3) Reducing all forms of harmful practices, gender -based violence and domestic violence.  
4) The application of gender integration as the main tool for achieving gender equality and 
justice in society.  
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REG IMES  
2.3 Trade agreements and arrangements  
2.3.1 WTO  
Paragraph 2.15.  
 
UK Question 2:   
Please may Albania explain what trade related measures it has adopted which support the 
Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment? Specifically, 
do you have any plans in place which support the commitment to the collection of gender -
disaggregated data, the use of indicators, monitoring and evaluation methodologies, and 
the analysis of gender -focused statistics related to trade?  
 
Answe r: Albania has endorsed the Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women's Economic 
Empowerment and agreed to collaborate on making trade and development policies more 
gender -responsive, including by sharing experiences relating to policies and programmes 
aimed at encouraging women's participation in trade by sharing best practices for conducting 
gender -based analysis of trade policies and for monitoring their effects by sharing ways of 
collecting gender data and analysing gender -focused statisti cs related to trade by working 
together in the WTO to remove barriers for women's economic empowerment and increase 
their participation in trade by ensuring that Aid for Trade supports efforts to analyse, design 
and implement more gender -responsive trade p olicies.  
 
Regarding gender statistics, one of INSTAT's strategic objectives is the fulfilment of user 
needs. In this framework INSTAT has undertaken the preparation of a dedicated publication 
"Men and Women in Albania 2023", which is published annually. Th e publication aims mainly 
at displaying data disaggregated by gender, aiming at the collection, analysis, and 
presentation of statistics by gender, and also for the drafting and monitoring of cross -sectorial 
policies within the framework of achieving gende r equality. The Official Statistics Program 
2022-2026 entails gender statistics in the official statistics, so that such statistics are available 
to all users on an on going  basis. Statistics and indicators in this publication serve to 
policymakers, academi cs, civil society and various users to broadly analyse the achievements 
made towards gender equality.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 46 - 
 
  The publication provide data on population, health education, employment, statistics, crime 
and criminal justice statistics. It also contains statistics o n women owning and running a 
business. A dedicated chapter  addresses gender inequality index, which includes reproductive 
health, women empowerment, and labour market participation indicators. The "Minimum Set 
of Gender Indicators", in which the list of in cluded indicators has been determined by Statistics 
Committee in cooperation with UN Women for measuring gender indicators. This Minimum Set 
of Gender Indicators" includes 52 indicators, of which 22 are SDG. INSTAT is working on 
further extending the Gende r statistics indicators. burra -dhe-gra-2023.pdf (instat.gov.al)  
 
Regarding gender budget, Albania has used the Medium -Term Budget Programme for 
programme and performance budgeting since 2008. Since 2010, the Ministry of Finance and 
the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in close cooperation with the UN Women office in 
Albania, have been working to integrate GRB principles into  the medium -term and annual 
budget programming processes.  In 2012, GRB was included in the Medium -Term Budget 
Programme, (MTBP) which was further enforced through a Decision of the Council of Ministers 
of Albania.  GRB was included as a legal requirement of  the Organic Budget Law in 2016 and 
the Law on Local Finances in 2017. These laws regulate the application of GRB in medium -
term and annual budget planning along with the monitoring, evaluation and reporting 
processes of the relevant institutions.  
 
For the  year 2024, the Albanian Government will continue to implement its commitments in 
addressing gender -based issues in various sectors. Attention has been given to the fulfilment 
of the medium -term objectives foreseen in the National Strategy of Gender Equali ty 
2021-2030, expressed in five main pillars of long -term action and most of them have to do 
with the empowerment of women and girls in Albania.  
 
The trend of budget forecasts that address sensitive gender issues has a slight increase with 
the previous yea rs, where about ALL 67.6 billion or 9.3% of the general expenses for all 
sectors at the central level is expected to go to the realization of gender objectives in: social 
protection, education, health, public order, agriculture, justice, etc. 53 out of 128  budget 
programs, or 11 Line Ministries and 9 central institutions, have conducted gender analysis of 
their policies and budgets and have planned to address issues of importance for gender 
equality in Albania.  
 
According to the gender -disaggregated data re lated to trade, we are still working on improving 
indicators that will clearly show the impact of measures taken on trade related to women, and 
also to other sectors.  
 
2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES  
2.3.2 Regional and preferential agreements  
Paragraph 2.18  
 
UK Question 3:   
Please may Albania provide an overview of the degree to which the Ministry of Trade 
actively engages with Albanian businesses trading in the UK, and UK businesses trading 
in Albania?  
 
Answer:  In order to not interrupt the tr ade concessions that UK had under SAA agreement, 
after BREEXIT, Albania and UK signed the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement 
between United  Kingdom  of Great Britain and North Ireland. The agreement entered into force 
in May  2021. The Agreement be tween Albanian and UK directly incorporates (with some 
modifications) SAA between Albania and EU. The Agreement incorporates the relevant 
provisions of the SAA on liberalization of trade and tariff lines.  
 
Taking account at the Joint Statement with the Pri me Minister Sunak in December  2021, we 
will continue to build on our Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to boost bilateral 
trade and investment.  
The Government of the United  Kingdom  has reaffirmed its interest to invest directly in Albania, 
in strategic sectors, such as: energy, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture and agro -industry, 
transport and logistics, IT services, etc. We estimate that it is very important to have frequent 
business forums, meetings and so on in order to create the environm ent that British business WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 47 - 
 
  know Albania, our attractive strategic sectors and incentives in place, in order to put Albania 
at their focus in their investment plans.  
 
Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the Albania and UK was 
EUR 472 million in 2022, with an increase by 67% compared to 2021. Albania has a positive 
trade balance with UK in services. The export of services reached at EUR  261 million in 2022, 
with a significant increase by 94% compared with 2021, especially in touris m and transport.  
 
According to the NBC (National Business Centre) database, in January  2023, 206 British -
owned companies are active in the territory of Albania. Among them, 148 have 100% foreign 
capital, while 58 of them have joint capital.  
British companies are present in all 12 counties of the country. Most of these companies, 
respectively 67%, operate in the territory of the County of Tirana. Other counties with a high 
presence of British -owned companies are the counties of Durrës and Vlora, with respectively 
9% of the total number of companies in each county.  
The activity of British -owned companies is spread over several areas of economic activities. 
'Services' is the most important sector with respectively 43% of the companies involved, 
followed by 'Wholesale and retail trade; repair of vehicles and motorcycles' (24%).  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1 Measures directly affecting imports  
Paragraph 3.12  
 
UK Question 4:  
Please may the Albanian Ministry set out its position on vet certification requirements in 
Export Health Certificates (EHCs)?  The UK would welcome the opportunity to have 
follow -up discussions on this matter.  
 
Answer:  Under the ministry of agriculture comes food safety authority, which is responsible 
to release vet certificate. Moreover,  Albania has signed TRACES agreement to recogni ze 
common vet entry documents.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation, and requirements  
Paragraph 3.3  
 
UK Question 5:   
Please may Albania outline the steps which will be taken to ensure that Customs 
procedures and associated guidance are fully up to date and accessible in English and in 
a PDF format?  
 
Answer:  During the years 2024 –2025, we will upgrade the customs website and conduct 
ongoing steps to translate the legislation.  
 
3. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.6 Government Procurement  
3.99 Reforms to government procurement framework  
 
UK Question 6:   
Albania's national strategy for public procurement is in place until 2023, the UK would 
like to understand more detail on the implementation of this strategy to date and if there 
are any plans to extend this action plan post 2023?  
 
Answer:  
Under the National Public Procurement Strategy 2020 -2023, several measures have been 
taken which have impacted the public procurement, defence and security and concessions & 
PPPs area, and the most important are:  
 
• The Law 162/2020 "On public procurement" was adopted in 2020, which has a high 
level of alignment with the EU Directives 2014/24/EU, 2014/25/EU, 89/665/EEC and 
92/13/EEC.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 48 - 
 
  • The adoption of the secondary legislation in the public procurement a rea, pursuant of 
Law 162/2020.  
• Approval of the rules for procurement in the field of defence through the Decision of the 
Council of Ministers No.  1170, dated 24  December  2020 and of the standard tender 
documents for in the field of defence and security.  
• Finalization of a legal gap analysis on the concessions and PPPs law with the EU Directive 
on concessions 2014/23/EU.  
• In the framework of professionalization, a professionalization Roadmap and the training 
curricula are finalized. Also, the train ing of Trainers and consequently the piloting of the 
trainings for the CA for the beginner's level curriculum, was finalized.  
• The memorandum of cooperation between the Public Procurement Agency and the High 
Inspectorate of Declaration and Control of Assets  and Conflict of Interest was signed 
with No. 7889 Prot., dated 22  December  2021. Following this memorandum, both 
parties have finalized and published Instruction No.  1, dated 21  January  2022 "On the 
declaration of Conflict of Interest by Officials/Employe es in the procurement process 
and the implementation of the contract".  
• Approval of the joint Roadmap between the APP and the Competition Authority with a 
focus on compliance of competition principles in public procurement procedures.  
• The establishment of a  new Contract Management Electronic System, which is 
developed by the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI).  
• The establishment of the new E -Appeals and E -Complaints Management System.  
 
Meanwhile, the work is under way for the drafting of a new Na tional Public Procurement 
Strategy, covering the period 2024 -2030. In this regard, by Order of the Prime Minister 
No. 77, dated 27  June 2023, the Inter -Institutional Working Group for the drafting of the new 
Strategy and its action plan has been establishe d. 
 
3. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.6 Government Procurement  
3.3.6.1 Legal Framework  
3.107 Defence and Security Procurement Law  
 
UK Question 7:   
The UK would like to understand if Albania has any plans to increase the transparency of contracts 
awarded outside the regulatory framework?  
 
Answer:  The Law 36/2020 'On defence and security procurements" is based on the Defence 
and Security Procurements EU Directive 2009/81/EC and provides for the scope of the 
implementation and the cases of exclusion from this law. In any case, for contracts which are 
not covered by this law, there are specific regulations for them.  
 
3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.7  Intellectual property rights  
Paragraph  3.3.7.1    Domestic IP regime and recent developments  
 
UK Question 8:   
Please can Albania explain why they have limited the ability of individuals to apply for a 
Geographical Indication or Designation of Origin, and how this affects third -country 
producers who wish to seek protection for their GIs in Albania?  
 
Answer:  With respect to the Albanian National, the request for registration of any GI/AO ca n 
only be submitted by a "Group", meaning any association, regardless of its legal form, 
consisting mainly of producers or processors working with the same product.  
A single natural or legal person can be treated as a group when two the following condition s 
are fulfilled:  
a) the person is the only producer willing to submit a request;  
b) in terms of protected appellation of origin and geographical indications of protected, the 
defined geographical area has characteristics, which differ significantly from th ose of 
neighbouring  areas or the characteristics of the product are different from those produced 
in neighbouring  areas.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 49 - 
 
  3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE  
3.3 Measures Affecting Production and Trade  
3.3.7  Intellectual property rights  
Paragraph  3.3.7.2    Enforcement  
 
UK Question 9:   
Please may Albania clarify how it enforces protection of Geographical Indications and 
Designations of Origin?  
 
Answer:  The right of ownership over Geographical Indications and Designations of Origin  is 
acquired through registration at the General Directorate of Industrial Property.  
 
Registration of a geographical indication gives the owners the right to use it. They have no 
right grant usage licenses for GI/AO.  
 
If the owners or holders of rights, wi thin the meaning of the national law, the authorized users 
of the registered geographical indication, submit a claim for goods imported to the Republic 
of Albania or for other goods within the market, which violate their rights, provided for in this 
law, c ustoms authorities or the State Market Surveillance Inspectorate, as the case may be, 
are forced to make the relevant verifications and, based on the conclusions drawn, to impose 
the blocking of customs clearances or the removal of goods from the market, a s well as the 
establishment of them in a safe place, unless the importer or dealer certifies, through 
documents of origin of the goods, that they are not forged. Customs authorities and the 
inspectors of the State Market Surveillance Inspectorate also act ex officio  when provided by 
the legislation in force that regulates the activity of these authorities.  
  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  UNITED  STATES  
Part I. Questions based on the Secretariat Report (WT/TPR/S/442)  
 
Page 24, Paragraphs 2.4.1; 2.27:  The United  States  Department of Commer ce Commercial Law 
Development Program has been engaged in technical assistance focused on promoting investment 
security in Albania.  
 
1. Does the new Law on Foreign Investments include an accompanying regulatory 
framework for ensuring that foreign investments  do not interfere with the security of 
critical infrastructure, technology, and data?  
Answer:  The working group, that is working on the revision of the investment law in Albania, 
is gathering information on the best international practices to incorporate as part of the 
Albanian legislation. They are evaluating the addition of provisions aimed at making a 
detailed  assessment of the investors' profile, with the aim of excluding from the 
benefit/treatment of any special support for entities that are the subje ct of legal proceedings 
for special offences.  
 
Page 29; Paragraphs 3.1.1; 3.4 : The United  States  Department of Commerce Commercial Law 
Development Program has been assisting Albania, through regional working groups, to implement 
best practices in the moder nization and streamlining of customs procedures. This has included 
regional discussions on how to implement risk -based post -clearance audit processes. Albania has 
implemented a "blue channel" post -clearance audit since 2022.  
 
2. Can Albania please provide de tails on how the blue channel functions, including how 
many goods entered the blue channel?  
Answer:  
The implementation of blue channel (the average level of the blue channel in the ASYCUDA 
system was about 10 -12%)  and it has operated according to the below risk criteria:  
• Procedures: IM 40%;  
• Duration of activity in IM: >= 8 years provided that the last 3 years are without 
interruption of activity;  
• Duration of the analysis: 3 years  
• the volume of imports to the EU export country is in the range from 90% t o 100% (3 -year 
analysis);  
• the inclusion in the list of "BLU" companies also of companies that result in the range of 
imports from EU origin and country of export from 70% - 89%.  
• the inclusion in the list of BLUE companies also of entities that have the rat io of the 
number of declarations with the EU exporting country over their total in the range of 90% 
- 99%.  
• Interference in value ≤ 5% (3 years);  
• Physical control level ≤ 50%;  
• 2 of 3 penalty criteria:  
a. the total amount of penalties in the value of ≤ 1,000 ,000 ALL (one million)  
b. the number of penalty cases should be ≤ 3 (three)  
c. % of positive controls (with violations) to be below the average of 9%  
 
3. What departments are responsible for risk analysis and post -clearance audits 
related to the blue channel?  
Answer:  SKAO Operative Post Control Sector as the control structure of the declarations 
selected by the Blue Channel . 
 WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 51 - 
 
  4. What are Albania's plans to expand usage of the blue channel?  
Answer:  In implementation of DCM No.  355, dated 26  May 2022 "For the personnel of the 
customs administration", amended, the SKAO Operative Post Control Sector as the control 
structure of the  declarations selected by the Blue Channel is closed.  
For this reason, as well as in implementation of the decisions of the  Risk Management 
Committee,  dated 26  October  2022, the Development Sector of Risk Profiles took measures 
to close the operation of the Blue Channel in the ASYCUDA World system by 5  January  2023.  
 
Page 35, Paragraph 3.28 : The Secretariat Report notes that Albania maintains applied rates that 
exceed bound rates for 24 tariff lines.  
 
5. Please explain why Albania maintains these increased applied rates.  
6. Please describe what efforts Albania is undertaking to lower its applied d uty rates 
to be equal to or lower than its bound duty rates.  
Answer:  Regarding the concern raised by members on the difference between MFN rate and 
the bound rate for few tariff lines, Albania confirms this fact and we would like to clarify all 
WTO members  that this difference is due to the correlations and changes in the tariff 
classification. There is no intention by Albania to be in breach with WTO schedule of 
commitments. We remain fully committed to respect our commitments undertaken under 
WTO.  
 
Page 4 6, Paragraph 3.81 : According to the Secretariat Report, Albania filed 16 SPS notifications 
to the WTO in 2016 and 2017. However, in paragraphs 3.75 and 3.76 amendments to various laws 
regarding food safety (Food Law) and animal health (Law No.  10465 /2011 o n Veterinary Services) 
occurred in 2020 and 2022. The United  States  notes that Albania has not notified any SPS 
notifications to the WTO SPS Committee per ePing since 2017. The United  States  is concerned that 
trading partners may not have been provided the  opportunity to review and comment on important 
SPS measures that are part of Albania's regulatory framework.  
 
7. Please explain what steps Albania is taking to ensure all SPS measures that may 
significantly impact trade are notified to the WTO SPS Committee.  
Answer:  I inform you that until 2017 we had a contact point for reporting SPS measures. 
After 2017, we do not know if there is still a point of contact. Please, if there is, tell us to send 
you the requested information. The SPS measures are mainly the blocking or ders issued by 
the veterinary sector, while the two laws requested for revision can be started immediately.  
 
8. Please provided a timeframe when WTO  Member s can expect to receive the Food 
Law and Law No.  10465 /2011 for review.  
Answer:  At the beginning of this  year, Albania was in contact with the WTO Secretariat 
regarding the provision of technical assistance on notifications, particularly focused on 
agriculture domestic support. We will contact the WTO Secretariat shortly to present our 
formal request on tech nical assistance in order to organize the workshops on this topic in a 
timely manner.  
 
Page 55, paragraph 3.120 : The Secretariat Report states that "amendments to the Law on 
Industrial Property in 2021 introduced the concept of trade secrets" and that "[a] ccording to the 
authorities the contained provisions largely align the legal framework with the EU acquis  in this area, 
in particular Directive (EU) 2016/943 ". 
 
9. Would you please explain how the amendments "largely align" with, and also how 
they are substantively different from, Directive (EU) 2016/943?   
Answer:  The national legislation on trade secrets is fully aligned with the Directive (EU) 
2016/943, except for those sections and articles of the Directive that are exclusively related 
to the EU Memb er States. In the National Strategy of Intellectual Property 2022 -2025, this 
part will remain in force with the release of new laws and will be regulated later by a special 
law. WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  The rules, measures and limitations applicable when setting the damages are se t forth in 
accordance with the Civil Code of the Republic of Albania and the Industrial Property Law.  
The following articles of the Albanian legislation provide the same identical rules and provisions 
for trade secrets as the Directive:  
• Subject matter and scope of protection (article 1)  
• Definitions (article 2)  
• Acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets (article 3)  
• Unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets(article 4)  
• Exceptions (article 5)  
• Preservation of confidentiality of trade secrets in the course of legal proceedings (9)  
• Damage (article 14)  
•  
• Publication of judicial decisions (article 15)  
 
Page 55, Paragraph 3.122 : The Secretariat Report notes that a new law on trademarks is being 
drafted and is expected to be adopted in December  2023.  
 
10. Please clarify if the Government of Albania is working on such provisions. If so, 
please outline the planned provisions and the ti meline for enacting them into law.   
Answer:  The Albanian government is fully committed to align its legislation with the EU 
Acquis , based on the country's progress towards integration with this Union. This commitment 
of the Albanian Government can be seen concretely implemented in the draft law on 
trademarks, the drafting and content of which is based on the relevant directives and 
regulations of the EU. In this respect, the alignment with EU acts is complete.  
EU Regulation 2017/1001 is almost completely al igned, with the exception of articles that are 
applicable only to the European  Union  and its member states: articles 1, 3, 17, 19, 27 (3)(4), 
33(8)( 9), 34(4) – (7), 38 (3), 39, 40, 43 (2) -(5), 62 (3), 69. 93 -100, 107 -110, 113, 115 -
118, 121 -123, 125 -183, 191, 192, 98 (5) and (8), 202, 206 -212. 
The Directive is partially transposed, as we ll as in some cases not transposed in the Albanian 
IP law, regarding articles of Directive : 1, 4, 5, 8, 13, 18, 19, 20, 34, 44, 46.  
Moreover, in the articles where there are general  provisions, full alignment has been made 
and only the competent territory /institution has been changed or the rules for the use of the 
certification mark in the EU and the rules for the use of the certification mark in Albania.  
Also, those provisions related to the conditions of filing the trademark application, the actions 
performed in the Board of Appeal during the administrative appeal, the filing of the lawsuit in 
the courts, the general principles of representation, judicial jurisdiction have been partially 
aligned. These provisions are partially aligned due to the administ rative and civil legislation in 
force in the Republic of Albania.  
For the above, that EU Regulation 2017/1001 is considered fully aligned (with the few 
exceptions reserved for articles that apply only to member states).  
During the year 2023, the drafting o f the new legal draft "On Trademarks" began, which is 
currently under consideration by the Ministry of Finance and Economy, which is the institution 
that follows the entire process until the law is approved.  
Page 56, Paragraph 3.125 : The Secretariat Report  states that there are no provisions in Albanian 
law addressing the infringement of copyright online.  
 
11. Does this mean Albania has neither civil nor criminal provisions regarding online 
copyright infringement? Please clarify if the Government of Albania is working on 
legislation respecting online copyright infringement.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Answer:  The Albanian Criminal Code on articles 148 and 149 refers to the total or partial 
unlawful reproduction of a work of literature, music, art or science which belongs to another, 
or if their use is conducted without the author's consent, when his personal and property rights 
are violated, constitutes criminal contravention and is punishable by a fine or by imprisonment 
up to two years.  
Additionally, the publication, partia l or total use with his own name, of a work of literature, 
music, art or science which belongs to another, constitutes criminal contravention and is 
punishable by a fine or up to two years  of imprisonment.  
The Criminal code does not refer to the reproducti on, publication or usage of a copyrighted 
work on the digital environment.  
In regards to the civil provisions regarding online copyright infringement, by the end of year 
2025, Albanian government will transpose both directives of EU Directive (EU) 2019/790  of 
the European Parliament and of the Council of 17  April 2019 on copyright and related rights 
in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC and Directive 
(EU) 2019/789 on the exercise of copyright and related rights applicab le to certain online 
transmissions of broadcasting organizations and retransmissions of television and radio 
programs, and amending Council Directive 93/83/EEC.  
Initially the Copyright Directorate, the Public Institution in charge of Copyright in Albanian has 
taken several steps initially to the drafting of the new articles in the copyright law on the 
digital environment, such as: Organized several workshops, trainings and seminars on the 
field and finalized a feasibility study on the assessment of an analy sis and comparison of EU 
and existing national environmental legislation to determine the existing state of conformity 
and the appropriate national response to the EU legislation; the capacities of the Copyright 
Directorate in Albania and the expectations for each stakeholder included in this procedure. 
The actual drafting of the new copyright law articles that will address the online copyright 
infringement will initiate in December  2023. 
Get the best practices on EU countries that have already transposed t he directive; organize 
workshops on importance and concrete actions to be taken by Albania.  
Article  2 of the law no. 97/2013 "On audiovisual media in the Republic of Albania", as 
amended, determines that the scope of activity of the Audiovisual Media Autho rity (AMA), 
where it is determined that: This law applies to linear audiovisual broadcasts, non -linear 
audiovisual broadcasts and support services theirs, as well as for the services of video 
distribution platforms. This law does not apply to print media.  
Likewise, we also inform you of article 32 point 6 of the above -mentioned law, which states 
that: "OSHMAs must broadcast programs, including cinematographic works, in accordance 
with the conditions and deadlines for which they have signed agreements with t he rights 
holders of these works ". 
For the above, AMA based on Albanian law has no competence for supervision and therefore 
taking administrative measures regarding copyright violations in the online market in the 
audiovisual field.  
Likewise, following the  letter sent by the Ministry of Culture, with no. 2598/1 prot., dated 
4 August  2021 (AMA), where it has determined that based on Article  178 of the copyright law, 
it is foreseen that ISHMT controls the implementation of this law in the domestic market in 
accordance with law no. 10 433, dated 16  June 2011 "On inspection in the Republic of 
Albania", the institutional activity of the AMA, among others, is the supervision and regulation 
of the activity of the Audiovisual Media Service Providers (OSHMA) accordin g to the organic 
law of the authority, only in terms of broadcasting rights.  WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
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  Page 57, Paragraph 3.132 : The Secretariat Report states that Customs "suspended the release 
of 3,000 products suspected of infringing IPR in 2021, a decrease from the more than 23,000 
products in 2020 ".  
 
12. Please explain the reason for the significant reduction in suspensions in 20 21 and if 
any action is being taken to increase border enforcement to prior levels.  
Answer:  In order to increase IPR border enforcement, have been taken the following action 
by Custom Administrate:  
Risk profiles were updated based on the data provided by t he right holders and/or information 
from the risk profiles.  
 
During this period, the data and curricula of ASPA, have been updated and the level of the on -
the-job training model has increased, and the total number of trained persons is 110 persons 
includin g all customs branches of the Republic of Albania.  
In the framework of inter -institutional cooperation, IPR Directorate with its human resources 
has contributed to the drafting of the National Strategy 2022 – 2025, taking into account the 
important role pl ayed by Customs Administrate in the process of protection of intellectual 
property rights.  
 
The new National Strategy for Intellectual Property 2022 – 2025, was approved with the 
Decision of Council of Ministers No 350 of 26  May 2022 "On the approval of th e National  
In order to increase the administrative capacities, the IPR Directorate, trained customs office 
personnel:  
The training was on Custom Intellectual Property Right Legislation (Custom Intellectual 
Property Right legislation is fully aligned with E U Regulation 608/2013), also provided 
information and knowledge of enforcement methods and ines plus +.  
Also, on November  2021, IPR directorate, close successfully the project "SUPPORT TO THE 
ALBANIAN CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATIO N OF THE EU 
CUSTOMS CODE AND INCREASE OF OPERATIONAL CAPACITIES IN THE AREA OF 
COUNTERFEIT GOODS" as a part of IPA 2017 which aim to assist the Albania custom on 
implementation of the database Ines +.  
IPR Directorate has organized workshops along with some of the right holders (Essence, 
Cartier, Channel, Prop sockets, Cartier and Porsche), where the custom officers, anti -
smuggling units and the representatives from the main directorates of Law Enforcement 
Department, about the way of identification of c ounterfeited products.  
 
Part II. Questions based on the Government Report (WT/TPR/G/442)  
 
Page 16, Paragraph 3.31 : The Government Report notes that the 2016 copyright law fully 
transposed 8 directives of European  Union  and partially transposed 5 directives.  
 
13. To what extent did the copyright amendments passed in 2022 further align Albania 
with EU law?  
Answer:  The amendments of 2022 provide of a partial level of approximation of the Albanian 
Copyright Law with Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 
25 October  2012 on certain permitted uses of orphan works. Copyright Directorate will fully 
transpose the directive by the end of 2025 by amend the relevant articles to include 
phonograms as part of the works covered on the relevant articles.  
Further, it partially transposed the Implementation of Marrakesh Treaty Directive (EU) 
2017/1564. The future changes will include Regulation (EU) 2017/1563 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 13  September  2017 on the cross -border exchange between 
the Union and third countries of accessible format copies of certain works and other subject 
matter protected by copyright and related rights for the benefit of persons who are blind, 
visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.  
 
Page 16, paragraph 3.32 : The Government Report states that legislative amendments "approved 
in August 2021, approximates partially the Directive (EU) 2016/943 on the protection of undisclosed 
know-how and business inf ormation (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and WT/TPR/M/449/Add.1  
 
- 55 - 
 
  disclosure, to setup the state Industrial Property Database and the Industrial Property Management 
System (SAPI)."  
 
14. Please explain how the amendments "approximates partially ", and also ho w they 
are substantively different from, Directive (EU) 2016/943?  
Answer:  National legislation on trade secrets is almost fully aligned and harmonized with 
Directive (EU) 2016/943, except for those sections and articles of the EU Directive that relate 
exclusively to EU members, also with very minor changes in relation to national legislation 
(mainly, slight changes due to procedural rules) regarding, general obligations, proportionality 
and abuse of process, limitation period, interim and preventive measure s, conditions and 
safeguards, court decisions and remedial measures, Conditions, Safeguards and Alternative 
Measures. The articles of Directive (EU) 2016/943 regarding the exchange of information and 
correspondents, reports and transposition have not been aligned insofar as they concern only 
EU Member States.  
The following articles of the Directive (EU) 2016/943 have been almost fully approximated 
with slight adjustments according to the national legislation (mainly due to procedural rules):  
 
• General provisions (article 6) Proportionality and abuse of process (article 7)  
• Limitation period (article 8)  
• Provisional and precautionary measures (article10)  
• Conditions of application and safeguards and alternative measure  (articles 11 & 13)  
• Injunctions and corrective measures (article 12)  
 
The following articles of the Directive (EU) 2016/943 are not approximated so far, they 
concern EU Member States only and will become relevant as of date of accession: 
(articles  16-21) 
 
• Exchange of information and correspondents  
• Reports  
 
15. Please explain how the "the protection of undisclosed know -how and business 
information (trade secrets)" relates to setting up "the state Industrial Property Database 
and the Industrial Property Manage ment System (SAPI)."  
Answer:  The online application for all services offered by GDIP and the integration of the 
Administrative System of Industrial Property (SAPI) in the network of interaction of state 
databases, has led to the implementation of every doc ument filed in GDIP and every document 
compiled by employees of GDIP Total automation of services has brought more time to focus 
on important tasks, improved productivity and faster processing of documents.  
__________