Eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers, along with implementing regional agreements, is considered crucial for accelerating the economic integration of the Western Balkans into the EU single market.

Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, emphasized that implementing the Regional Common Market through CEFTA is essential for concrete benefits for citizens and businesses, as well as for closer alignment with the EU market.

"Within the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, we are committed to jointly offering the region faster EU accession and pre-accession processes. The Regional Common Market is a prerequisite for accessing the benefits of the EU single market. Implementing the regional market through CEFTA brings real and tangible benefits for our citizens and companies. Our duty, as policymakers, is to make these results concrete, eliminating bureaucratic procedures, obstacles, and both tariff and non-tariff barriers, both within the region and in trade with the EU," said Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila.

Kusari-Lila stressed that fulfilling agreed measures will accelerate economic integration into the EU by eliminating bureaucratic procedures and both tariff and non-tariff barriers.

Boguslaw Gertrude from the EU Delegation in Pristina emphasized that support for CEFTA and the Regional Common Market remains a key part of the Growth Plan. 

"Support for activities in the Western Balkans also includes support for the activities of the Central European Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Common Market. Kosovo’s chairmanship last year enabled the unblocking of the CEFTA director’s appointment and the approval of a total of 12 decisions by the Joint Committee, further advancing this framework for regional economic integration. We hope that this year, under Albania’s chairmanship, CEFTA will make further progress. Decision-making is not everything; for decisions to have a positive impact, implementation is as important as approval," he said.

He noted that implementation is as important as decision-making to ensure positive impact. Some key steps remain for Kosovo, particularly ratifying additional CEFTA protocols (5, 6, and 7), which would simplify customs inspections, trade in services, and dispute resolution, making business easier both regionally and beyond.

He noted that implementation is as important as decision-making to ensure positive impact. Some key steps remain for Kosovo, particularly ratifying additional CEFTA protocols (5, 6, and 7), which would simplify customs inspections, trade in services, and dispute resolution, making business easier both regionally and beyond.

Pranvera Kastrati, Director of the CEFTA Secretariat, highlighted that the goal is faster, safer, and more impactful trade for businesses and citizens. CEFTA has significantly improved regional trade through initiatives such as green corridors, covering around 1.4 million trucks in 2025 and saving cumulative waiting time equivalent to 12 years compared to the previous year.

Lulzim Rafuna, President of the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, stressed that CEFTA represents much more than a regional trade agreement. It provides a practical framework directly affecting how companies operate, trade, invest, and expand across the region. Businesses daily face administrative barriers, border delays, regulatory fragmentation, and unnecessary costs, which programs like CEFTA aim to address.

"For the business community, CEFTA represents much more than a regional trade agreement. It is a practical framework that directly affects how our companies operate, trade, invest, and expand their activities across the region. From the private sector perspective, CEFTA’s success is ultimately measured by one simple question: Did it make it easier for businesses to operate and grow?"