CEFTA - Central European Free Trade Agreement

Happy to see regional forces coming together at the coordination meeting in Vienna! With key insights from the #BerlinProcess Summit and bold plans for 2025 on the agenda, we’re united by a mission to make a real impact in the #WesternBalkans.

Did you know that #IntellectualProperty rights play an important role in international #trade? #CEFTA does and that is why the #IPR is on the list of adopted decisions. Here are the benefits of the CEFTA IPR: ✔ Companies will enjoy the same minimum standards of IPR protection across CEFTA ✔ Establishes regional exhaustion regime - products can be resold anywhere in CEFTA once purchased ✔ Closer cooperation to expand the scope, digitize processes, raise awareness, and help SMEs ✔ Prepare the CEFTA markets to function within the EU Single Market. #CEFTAmatters to protect IP rights!

If you haven’t heard, #CEFTA #Geoblocking Decision has just been adopted, breaking down barriers and creating a more open and fair digital marketplace for consumers across the region 👏 What are the benefits? ✔ Equal Access 👉 Consumers will shop online for products and services without restrictions. 🛒 ✔ No Barriers 👉 It will remove limitations on accessing websites, platforms, or specific goods and services. 🚫 ✔ Payment Freedom 👉 Payment cards cannot be denied simply because they are issued in a CEFTA Party. 💳 ✔ Inclusive Shopping 👉 No one is excluded, regardless of who they are and where they shop from. ✅ This is why #CEFTAmatters!

With the latest #CEFTA Agreements in place, #CEFTA validated Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programmes will ensure that trusted companies enjoy the benefits across the region 🚀 ✅ AEO Benefits → Faster customs release and fewer inspections for certified companies  ✅ Regional Recognition → AEO status granted in one CEFTA Party is recognized by all  ✅ Simplified Trade → Streamlined processes improve trade efficiency All of these bringing savings in time and money! 👏🏻 This is why #CEFTAmatters!

We're all set for #CRMWeek2024 kicking off tomorrow in Tirana 🇦🇱 💬 Join our speakers discussing on the progress and challenges in advancing the CRM agenda, the impact of the #GrowthPlan reforms, and the region’s gradual integration into the 🇪🇺EU’s Single Market: 🔹 Valeska Esch – Senior Adviser, Federal Government Special Representative for the Western Balkans 🔹 Endrit Yzeiraj – Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs 🔹 Olivera Ceni Bardiqi – CEFTA 🔹 Ardian Hackaj, CDI Research Director. 🔹 Blerina Raca – GIZ Albania 🔹 Francesca Porcelli – EU Delegation to Albania 🔹 Arben Shkodra – Albanian National Economic Council 🔹 Sokol Zeneli – CDI Expert Auswärtiges Amt (Federal Foreign Office) Germany CEFTA - Central European Free Trade Agreement GIZ Albania European Union Delegation to Albania Bashkimi i Prodhuesve Shqiptarë

Together with GIZ, we hosted a workshop in Budva, Montenegro, to strengthen #ConsumerProtection across #CEFTA! This event brought together policy officers, civil servants, and experts from the CEFTA Parties, European Commission, and EU Member States to share best practices in implementing EU consumer protection rules, with a focus on contracts for the sale of goods, digital content, and digital services. Through interactive sessions, we explored new solutions to make our common market safer and fairer for consumers. Together, we are building a stronger #CommonRegionalMarket—one that protects consumers' rights and ensures a more secure shopping experience for everyone 🤝

#BerlinProcess leaders have welcomed #CEFTA breakthrough and adopted new #CommonRegionalMarket Action Plan 2025-2028 @ 10th #Berlin Process Summit. With new agreements and a bold new Common Regional Market vision, CEFTA is driving job creation, business growth, enhanced consumer protections and offering even more opportunities, closely aligning with the EU #GrowthPlan and paving the way for deeper economic ties with the EU Single Market. This is why #CEFTAmatters!

The new #CEFTA #eCommerce agreement brings key #EU digital market rules to the region, making business regulations simpler by moving from seven sets of rules to just one. ✅ For consumers, it guarantees basic rights like a 14-day return policy, whether you're shopping locally or anywhere in CEFTA. 🛒 #CEFTAMatters for building a more connected and efficient digital market.

9 New #CEFTA Agreements will boost #trade, create jobs, and enhance consumer protection across the region 👏 These agreements bring us closer to the #CommonRegionalMarket and EU Single Market, aligning our economies with #EU standards and unlocking new growth opportunities 🚀. Just ahead of the 10th #BerlinProcess anniversary, this is a significant move toward stronger regional integration, showing why #CEFTAmatters ! More info 👉 https://cutt.ly/5eP5Fczq

#CEFTA takes a major step forward with the adoption of 9 groundbreaking agreements, paving the way for stronger regional economic cooperation. These policies are set to simplify trade, create jobs, empower businesses and provide to the consumers more choices, better prices, and enhanced protections across the region! 🌍 A huge thanks to all the experts, administrations, and the European Commission for their dedication in making this a reality. Together, we're shaping a more integrated and prosperous region with the EU vision. This is why #CEFTAMatters!