International Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Association - Western Balkans AEO Assocıatıon Meetıng

International Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Association - Western Balkans AEO Assocıatıon Meetıng

As a delegation from the International Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Association, consisting of myself, Ms. Aysun YILMAZ, Secretary General of the Board of Directors, and Ms. Nuray KARABIYIK, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, we paid a visit to the CEFTA-AEO Association in Tirana, Albania, on May 13–14.

Regarding CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) and the AEO Alliance:

Established in 2021 by Authorized Economic Operators, the Regional AEO Association plays a central role in facilitating faster and safer trade across six countries in Southeast Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia).

The Association brings together AEO-certified businesses, customs authorities, other industry stakeholders, and policymakers to help eliminate bureaucratic barriers, reduce costs, and support the secure transport of goods.

The association is organized as follows:

• Members – The President, elected by the Board of Directors, sets the Association’s strategic direction and represents the Association to the outside world.

• Regional Director – Oversees day-to-day operations and implements the strategy.

• Board of Directors – The Board of Directors, elected by the members, performs oversight functions and guides technical and administrative activities.

• The Association accepts membership applications from both Certified AEOs (companies currently holding AEO status) within the CEFTA region and future AEOs and supporters (businesses committed to AEO certification or actively preparing for it and willing to promote the program).

The association has a total of 44 members, including 8 from Albania, 7 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6 from Kosovo, 6 from Montenegro, 8 from North Macedonia, and 9 from Serbia.

As part of the visits conducted on May 13, our delegation met with Mr. Genc CELİ, the current president representing Albania for the 2026 term, at the association’s headquarters. He mentioned that membership fees are set at 1,000–1,250 euros annually for large companies and half that amount for small companies, and expressed their desire to explore potential collaboration opportunities with us. He also mentioned that they would like to invite us to the general assembly meeting they will hold in November, noting that representatives from the EU and CEFTA will be present, and that GIZ (the EU funding agency) could cover the expenses.

Additionally, Mr. CELİ mentioned that in the coming period, we could work on the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), the revision of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), customs issues, and the organization of AEO training programs, and that a decision on this matter would be made at the general assembly.

On May 14, our delegation met with Mr. Kenan SEVİNÇ, President of the Albania-Turkey Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATTSO), and Mr. Ziya ARNAVUTOĞLU, Secretary General. The meeting covered topics such as improving the investment climate, tender processes, and increasing our exports. On the same day, our delegation also paid a visit to our Ambassador to Tirana, Mr. Barış Ceyhun ERCİYES, and our Commercial Counselor, Mr. Tarık AKSOY, at their offices. The discussions covered Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) processes, Albania’s EU accession process, and export statistics.

As a result of the bilateral and multilateral meetings held: Discussions took place regarding AEO projects, education, the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), the revision processes of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the development of exports, and contacts regarding new EU fund projects for the upcoming period.

In summary, this meeting in Tirana also laid the foundation for our new AEO processes. As stated in our association’s vision: “To conduct research at the level of different countries implementing the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) System and to collect all relevant information and statistical data.” In line with this mission, we will continue to share the data, information, and statistics we collect with our members and the public.

Mehmet Altay YEGİN

International Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Association

Chairman of the Board