Since 1992, Albania has been granted by European Commission the status of countries benefiting from General System of Preferences. Textile and footwear products have been specifically benefiting from this status, according to Regulation 3917/1992 of 21 Dec. 1992.

More liberalization of textile products were granted with Autonomous Trade Preferences, based on Regulation No. 1763 of 29 July 1999, while in 2000, with Regulation No. 2007, Assymetric Regional Preferences were granted to Albania and other Balkan countries (Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croacia and Macedonia), which allowed for exportation with 0 customs duties of Outward Processed Products and Albanian origin products.

Such legal framework has greatly enhanced production and exports of Albania to EU.

Albanian Leather and Footwear Exports during the years

Source: ACIT

For details on EU legal framework with Albania on the trade of textile products, please consult the following:

1. Current products allowed to be exported from Albania to EU with 0 customs duties (regulation 517/94)
2. Regulation no. 1763, 29/07/1999
3. Regulation no. 2007, 18/09/2000
4. Trade of Albanian industrial goods with EU, N. Begaj, 2005 (in Albanian only)