In the framework of the screening process, on 3-4 June 2019, took place in Brussels at the premises of the European Commission, the explanatory meeting for Chapter 16 “Taxation”.

At this meeting, the Albanian Delegation was chaired by Mr. Sokol Dedja, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elton Haxhi, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy. The European Commission Delegation was led by Mr. Marc Jorna. At this meeting, the Albanian side participated simultaneously with the Macedonian side.

This meeting was organized in the framework of the screening process in order to present the EU legal framework, mandatory for approximation by the Albanian side.

Screening is the first stage in the context of opening and developing accession negotiations with the European Union. For the Albanian side, this preparatory phase, pending the opening of negotiations, began in the fall of 2018.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA) and the lead institution for this chapter, the Ministry of Finance and Economy, in cooperation with respective working groups, analyzed the agenda of the meeting, identified the contributing institutions in this process and prepared preliminary legal analysis together with technical questions related to approximation and implementation of legislation.

During the presentation of the EU legislation questions were addressed by the Albanian representatives to the EU experts. The agenda of the meeting consisted in introducing the legal framework for Direct Taxation and Indirect Taxation, Administrative Cooperation, Operational Capacity and Computerization.

Through the EC link, the meeting was attended online by other members of the IIWG not participating in this panel in order to enable real-time questions from this audience.

The IIWG, following this meeting, will conclude a full legal analysis of the identification of the legal framework that is technically called ‘Legal Gap Analysis’. As per above, the entire process is coordinated and directed by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the European Commission, the Albanian Mission in Brussels and the Lead Institution for the chapter.