Customs 2013 Programme Customs 2013 is a programme which gives the national customs administrations of the EU, together with the European Commission, the opportunity to co-operate in areas of common and high interest. It runs from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013 and provides a legal and financial base for: – Reinforcing security and safety within the Community and at the external border; – Strengthening the fight against fraud and protecting the financial and economic interests of the Community and Member States; – Increasing the competitiveness of European business by speeding up customs procedures partially through the creation of a European paperless electronic customs environment. 1

Customs 2013 Programme consists of the following activities: Communication and Information exchange systems Benchmarking Seminars and workshops Project groups and steering groups Working visits Training activities Monitoring actions Any other activities required for the realization of the activities of the Programme. 2

Challenges of the Programme Through the programme, the national customs administrations work together to find appropriate answers to the following challenges: Protection of financial and economic Community interests Trade facilitation and co-operation Overall strategic and general support Strengthening security and safety Enlargement, integration of new Member States and relations with third countries 3

Participation in the Programme Participating countries in this programme are the Member States, but it is open to the candidate countries, potential candidate countries and certain partner countries of the of the European Neighbourhood Policy. On 16 th of July 2012 the DG of Customs has signed the MoU with the European Commission on participation of Albania to Customs 2013 Programme. This MoU is ratified by the Assembly of the Republic of Albania by the Law 20/2013 dt

The Albanian Customs Authority has expressed its interest to participate in the programme Customs 2013 to ensure possibilities to identify and develop and apply the best working practices in order that our customs administration could operate efficiently and effectively. In accordance with the objectives of this programme is aimed to ensure that custom activities mach the needs of the internal market, including supply chain security and trade facilitation, as well as support the strategy for growth and jobs. 5 Importance of Customs 2013 Programme for Albania.

Also,through this programme is ensured preparation of the potentially candidate countries for accession, including by means of the sharing of experience and knowledge with customs administration of those countries. So, for Albania to participate in the Customs 2013 Programme is a supporting instrument to the application for accession in the EU. Other participant countries in this Programme are Croatia, FYROM, Serbia, Turkey and since 2010 even Montenegro. So, for Albania is important participation even for the fact that all the Region countries, which are almost in the same process of adhering in the EU are already members of this programme. 6

Successor Programme Customs 2020 Taking into account the positive feedback resulting from the midterm evaluation of the Customs 2013 Programme, a successor CUSTOMS 2020 Programme is being proposed by the Commission. In line with the Commission legislative policy adopted in the framework of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the successor funding programme is proposed as a regulation. In accordance with this proposal, this Regulation on the CUSTOMS 2020 Programme contains a budgetary framework of EUR (in current prices) for the period of

Programme Management 8

Steering Groups 9