Free Movement of Albanian Goods within the European Union. New Challenges in the Context of Integration

Abstract

The free movement of goods is one of the success stories of the European project. It has helped to build the internal market from which European citizens and businesses are now benefiting and which is at the heart of EU policies. Today’s internal market makes it easy to buy and sell products in 27 Member States. It gives consumers a wide choice of products and allows them to shop around for the best available offer. A properly functioning internal market for goods is thus a critical element for the current and future prosperity of the EU in a globalised economy. From a legal perspective the principle of the free movement of goods has been a key element in creating and developing the internal market and the Albanian market as well. In the context of the integration in the European Union, Albania has signed the Trade and Co-operation Agreement and the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. Almost six years after the signature and the ratification of the SAA by all Member States, European Integration continues to be the paramount priority of the Republic of Albania. Albania is now fulfilling the criterion of membership in EU. Albania’s reform agenda under the SAA is covering areas ranging from political dialogue and regional cooperation to Community freedoms in the movement of goods, services, workers and capital, and mutual co-operation in justice and home affairs. The aim of this paper is to introduce the public debate on free movement of Albanian’s goods toward European Union, under SAA; articles 34–36 of the Treaty which define the scope and content of the principle by prohibiting unjustified restrictions on intra-EU trade and articles 16-45 SAA are on the focus of this study. In particular will be analyzed the free movement of goods, the harmonizing legislation, the actual rights and duties to be observed. In particular this paper will be focused on the jurisprudence of the ECJ and the Albanian Courts as well. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n6p737