As part of the ongoing efforts to modernize crossing points and facilitate trade, today, 11 March 2026, the Director General of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, Georgi Dimov, and the Acting Director General of the Serbian Customs Administration, Dragiša Petrović, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on electronic data exchange through the SEED+ system. The agreement is part of the “Green Lanes” initiative between the European Union and CEFTA, coordinated by the CEFTA and the Transport Community (TCT) Secretariat.
The signing ceremony, held in the presence of representatives of the CEFTA and Transport Community Secretariats, marks an important step toward strengthening operational cooperation between customs administrations and advancing CEFTA’s digital integration with the EU.
During the ceremony, Georgi Dimov, Director General of the Bulgarian Customs Agency, emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement for transit between the Western Balkans and the EU: “For Bulgaria, as an EU Member State, this Memorandum of Understanding is a powerful tool for more efficient management of the flow of goods. By introducing enhanced data exchange with Serbia, we not only accelerate transport but also strengthen the security of our crossings through precise risk analysis.”
Dragiša Petrović, Acting Director General of the Serbian Customs Administration, emphasized numerous benefits that this form of cooperation with neighbouring customs administrations brings about: “Business community will be able to rely upon faster, more transparent and predictable movement of goods, while agencies will be able to focus on effective controls that protect the safety of citizens and legal trade.”
During the signing ceremony, Pranvera Kastrati, Director of the CEFTA Secretariat, underlined the importance of continued cooperation within the framework of the “Green Lanes” initiative: “With every new signing, “Green Lanes” become stronger and more extensive. Today’s agreement between Bulgaria and Serbia is a direct response to the needs of companies for greater speed and certainty. We are building a digital bridge that accelerates the path of our products to the EU Single Market.”
Through the SEED+ system, customs administrations will exchange advance electronic information on shipments, enabling improved risk analysis and facilitating the processing of goods before they arrive at the crossing points. This contributes to faster procedures, shorter waiting times, and greater predictability for economic operators.
The “Green Lanes” initiative is one of the key instruments supporting trade facilitation between CEFTA and the European Union. It combines modernization of crossing points, digitalization of procedures, and enhanced cooperation between administrations to ensure faster, more transparent, and more predictable movement of goods.