ADM chief Alesse meets CEFTA secretariat director Kastrati

ADM director Roberto Alesse met Pranvera Kastrati, director of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) secretariat, at the agency's Piazza Mastai headquarters on 19 October, according to the Italian trade publication Jamma. The meeting covered customs data exchange, the continuation of ADM-CEFTA cooperation for 2027-2029 and the Green Lanes trade corridors.

It was reported that ADM and CEFTA have worked together in the Western Balkans for more than 15 years through the SEED+ project, which the report links to strengthening the capacity of customs administrations in the region and to facilitating trade. The talks addressed matters relevant to the Western Balkans' approach to the European Union, including customs data exchange, and covered ADM's involvement in upcoming technical activities under the 2027-2029 cooperation.

The parties also discussed the Green Lanes land corridors for the exchange of goods, which Jamma reported stem from memoranda of understanding signed by ADM with the customs administrations of Albania, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as two-way data exchange and ways to strengthen cooperation and support the implementation of those instruments.

Alesse said Italy has long viewed the Western Balkans as a region of fundamental importance for the stability and prosperity of the European continent, and that completing the European integration process is one of the most important strategic investments for the future. He said the agency would continue the collaboration begun with CEFTA in 2018, particularly in areas where ADM has established experience: technological innovation, data analysis, specialist training, risk management and countering fraud.