A year after launching the initiative, the Green Corridors/Lanes has been extended to all intra CEFTA BCPs/CCPs. This means that traders carrying essential goods will have priority passage throughout the Western Balkans. The extended concept will contribute to reducing waiting times at the BCPs/CCPs, and ultimately reducing the transport and trade costs for all businesses. We have provided electronic exchange of pre-arrival information through the CEFTA SEED (Systematic Exchange of Electronic Data) on goods of first necessity between customs administrations and other agencies involved in clearance of goods, which allows announcing consignments of the essential goods in advance. This system enables customs and phytosanitary, veterinary, and food inspections to plan their recourses at BCPs/CCPs, perform documentary checks in advance and prioritize passage of trucks carrying essential goods.

“The Green Corridors/Lanes preserved the trade in pandemics and served both businesses and administrations. Building on the achievements of the initiative, we extended the concept to the entire network of BCPs/CCPs in the Western Balkans. The concept ensures more efficient transport and trade facilitation of goods, by removing the most serious sources of inefficiency and unnecessary burden at the crossing points. We will keep developing the concept and hope to extend the initiative to the BCPs with the neighbouring EU MS given the economic importance of the European Union for the region, which accounts for around 2/3 of all trade.  “stated Emir Djikic, Director of the CEFTA Secretariat.

The Green Corridors/Lanes within Western Balkans were established at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak to prevent shortages of essential goods and medical equipment. At the Sofia Summit held in November 2020, the Leaders expressed their support to extend Green Corridor and Green Lanes to all BCP/CCPs in WB6 and with the neighbouring EU Member States.