Committee on National Security has approved the draft law for a joint police and customs center with Greece, during the proceedings of which was present this Monday also Andi Mahila, Deputy Minister of Interior, who explained details of the agreement, its purpose and how it will be developed.

In his speech, Mahila made a detailed presentation of the draft law and stressed that the joint police and customs center will help increase cooperation between the two countries in the fight against cross-border crime, organized crime and its links and illegal migration.

Focus of this agreement is the exchange of information on common issues, and the Deputy Minister clarified that the center will be positioned in the territory of the Hellenic Republic, at the Kakavija border crossing point.

This will not lead to overlap with customs and police bodies, as the center will have well-defined tasks and independent of the duties of customs and police bodies, the Deputy Minister of Interior clarified.

"The act has been submitted by the Council of Ministers to the Assembly of the Republic of Albania for approval. Albania-Greece agreement on establishing a joint center for police and customs cooperation. Working as closely as possible is at the heart of this deal. The agreement sets out common rules for the operation of the center.

This joint center for the exchange of information and coordination of cooperation will be positioned in the territory of the Greek Republic, in the current building of the Kakavija border crossing point. There is no authority in the decision-making center. A special point is the special exchange of personal data. Along with the act, the Ministry of Interior has submitted to the Assembly the relevant report.

All procedures have been followed in accordance with the law on international agreements. The Ministry of Europe and the Ministry of Justice have agreed in principle. The agreement in principle was approved on 4.04 2018 and was signed on 18 January 2021 in Kakavija by Deputy Minister Hodaj.

The operation of this center will not bring overlap with the customs police bodies as the aim is to increase and strengthen the cooperation between the exchange of information. This is a common center for information exchange and analysis. This center handles all issues and elements that are similar to all border crossings. It is not a center of common passage of vehicles and goods. Exchange of information on common issues”, underlined Mahila.

Among other things, he explained the team of this center that will be composed of 2 groups, one from the Albanian side and the other Greek one.

"There is no overlap on operational, executive issues. The officials of the center have no competence and do not take part in operational actions belonging to the police or part of the general directorate of customs.

This center is determined to have equally 5 officials from each party. Our side has appointed one police officer with the rank of commissioner and 4 police officers with the rank of inspector. Their commitment is only to collect and exchange information", added Deputy Minister Mahila.