WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
20 January 2012 
 (12-0388) 
Committee on Subsidies and 
Countervailing Measures Original:   English 
 
 
 
SUBSIDIES 
 
New and Full Notification Pursuant to Article XVI:1 of the  
GATT 1994 and Article 25 of the Agreement on  
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 
 
ALBANIA 
 
 
 The following notification, dated 16 January 2012,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Albania.   
 
_______________ 
  
 In accordance with Article 25.1 of the Agreem ent on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 
and under Article XVI of the GATT 1994, the Government  of Albania is notifying to the Committee on 
Subsidies and Countervailing M easures, the scheme of subsid ies programs as follows:   
 
1. "On excise duty exemptions for fuel oil, utilized on energy generation by thermo power 
plants with capacity more than 5 MW".  
 
2. "On defining the conditions and procedu res for the reimbursement of fuel excise, 
consumed in heating greenhouses for i ndustrial and agro industrial productions 
manufacturing, used for technological needs of production". 
 
3. On the Export-Credit Guarantee Fund.  
4. For the Establishment of Albanian Competitiveness Fund. 
 5. "On deferral of VAT payment for imported machineries and equipments". 
 G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
Page 2 
 
 
  1. "On excise duty exemptions for fuel oil, ut ilized on energy generation by thermo power 
plants with capacity more than 5 MW" 
1. Title of the subsidy 
 
The scheme "On excise duty exemptions for fuel oil, utilized on energy generation by thermo 
power plants with capacity more than 5 MW".  
 
2. Period covered by notification 
 
Year 2008.   
 3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
 
The scheme aims to cr eate facilities for undertakings that will create energy generation from 
power plants with a capacity not less than 5 MW, to ensure the fulfillment of energy demands in 
Albania. 
 4. Background authority for the subsidy 
 
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, the Depa rtment of Electro-Energetic Policies.  The 
responsible authority for the implementations of the scheme is National Agency of Natural Resources.  
 
 Law No. 8987 date 24.12.2002 "On creating facilities for the establishment of new electrical 
energy generation resources".    
 Law No. 9765 date 09.07.2007 "On some amendm ent of law nr. 8976, date 12.12.2002 "On 
excise" amended. 
  Council of minister decision No.839, date 05. 12.2007 "On conditions and procedures defining 
for the paid excise reimbursement and custom dut y exemption for machinery and equipment, used 
from electrical energy generation resources, with th e installed capacity not less than 5 MW".   
 
5. Form of the subsidy 
 
Excise duty reimbursement.   
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided 
 
All juridical (legal) persons, local and fore ign, building electrical energy generation 
resources, with installed capacity not less than 5 MW.    
7. Subsidy per unit or the total amount or  the annual amount budget for the subsidy 
 
For the year 2009 the reimbursement amount is 1,088,650 Euro. 
 8. Duration of the subsidy 
 
The excise on fuels shall be reimbursed 100% up to date 31 December 2014.  
 
From 1 January 2015 of excise shall be reimbursed  by 80%, the rest (20%) shall be afford by 
the beneficiary undertakings.   G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
 Page 3 
 
 
  9. Statistical data permitting an assessmen t of the trade effects on the subsidy 
 
 Not available.  2. "On defining the conditions and procedures  for the reimbursement of fuel excise, 
consumed in heating greenhouses for i ndustrial and agro industrial productions 
manufacturing, used for technological needs of production" 
1. Title of the subsidy 
 
 The scheme "On defining the conditions and pro cedures for the reimbursement of fuel excise, 
consumed in heating greenhouses for industrial and agro industrial productions manufacturing, used 
for technological needs of production." 
 
2. Period covered by notification  
 
From the year 2008.   
 3. Policy objective and/or  purpose of the subsidy 
 
 The objective is to facilitate the undertak ings, which will use fuel for technological 
requirement in manufacturing industrial production. 
 
4. Background authority for the subsidy 
 
Ministry of Finance, The General Department of Macroeconomic and Fiscal Policies.   
 
Law No. 9765 date 09.07.2007 "On some amendm ent of law nr. 8976, date 12.12.2002 "On 
excise" amended. 
 
4. Form of the subsidy 
 
Excise duty reimbursement. 
 
5. To whom and how the subsidy is provided 
 
All juridical persons, local and foreign, which use fuel (mazut and solar) during the 
manufacturing process.  
6. Subsidy per unit or the total amount or  the annual amount budget for the subsidy 
 
For the year 2009 the reimbursement amount is 37,753 Euro. 
 
7. Duration of the subsidy 
 
For 5 years.   
 8. Statistical data permitting an assessmen t of the trade effects on the subsidy 
 
Not available.  
 
 G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
Page 4 
 
 
  3. On the Export-Credit Guarantee Fund 
1. Title of the subsidy 
 
 On the Export-Credit Guarantee Fund.   
 
2. Period covered by notification 
  Year 2007.  
3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
 
 The main objective is to support exporters and to increase the competitiveness of the 
Albanian undertakings.  The scheme is intended to operate state guarantees for short-term financing 
loans, in order to ensure the same financing term s and conditions for domestic  exporters as for foreign 
firms.  
 
4. Background authority for the subsidy 
 
 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, Department of Business Promotion, Albania 
Bussines Agency, ALBINVEST.  
 Law no. 9645, date 27.11.2007 "On State Budget of 2007". 
  5. Form of the subsidy 
  Grant with cost sharing (up to 50%).   
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided 
 
 Small and medium size undertakings. 
 7. Subsidy per unit or the total amount or  the annual amount budget for the subsidy 
 
 For the year 2009 the reimbursement amount is 0,15 mln ALL.  For the year 2010 the reimbursement amount is 0 mln ALL. 
 
8. Duration of the subsidy 
 
 3 years. 
 9. Statistical data permitting an assessmen t of the trade effects on the subsidy 
 
 Beneficiary undertakings for the year 2009. 
  G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
 Page 5 
 
 
  4. For the Establishment of Albanian Competitiveness Fund 
1. Title of the subsidy 
 
 For the Establishment of Albanian Competitiveness Fund. 
 
2. Period covered by notification  
  Year 2007.  
3. Policy objective and/or purpose of the subsidy 
 
 The purpose of the scheme is to increase th e competitiveness of Albanian SME-s, through 
improvement of their product and management qua lities, delivering of products with high market 
standards, and their integration into  Regional and European markets.  
 
4. Background authority for the subsidy 
 
 Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, Department of Business Promotion. 
 
 Albania Bussines Agency, ALBINVEST.  
 Law no. 9645, date 27.11.2007 "On State Budget of 2007". 
 5. Form of the subsidy  
  Grant with cost sharing (up to 50%). 
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided 
 
 Small and medium size undertakings. 
 7. Subsidy per unit or the total amount or  the annual amount budget for the subsidy 
 
 For the year 2010 the reimbursement amount is 16.2 mln ALL.  
8. Duration of the subsidy 
 
 3 years. 
 
9. Statistical data permitting an assessmen t of the trade effects on the subsidy 
 
 20 beneficiary undertakings (SME). 
 
 G/SCM/N/220/ALB 
Page 6 
 
 
  5. "On deferral of VAT payment for imported machineries and equipments" 
1. Title of the subsidy 
 
 The scheme "On deferral of VAT payment fo r imported machineries and equipment's". 
 
2. Period covered by notification 
  From the year 2007.  
3. Policy objective and/or  purpose of the subsidy 
 
 The objective is to facilitate business investments in Albania. 
 
4. Background authority for the subsidy 
 
 Ministry of Finance. 
  Law No. 9856 date 26.12.2007 "On some amen dment of law nr.7928, date 27.04.1995 "On 
VAT". 
 5. Form of the subsidy  
  Deferral of VAT payment for a 12 months period.   
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided 
  All undertakings which import machineries a nd equipment's for investment purpose.   
 7. Subsidy per unit or the total amount or  the annual amount budget for the subsidy 
 
 For the year 2010 the reimbursement amount is 2,694.3 mln ALL.    
8. Duration of the subsidy 
 
 Indeterminate. 
 
9. Statistical data permitting an assessmen t of the trade effects on the subsidy 
 
 Not available. 
 
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