OSCE launches Albanian version of handbook of best practices at border crossings

The Albanian version of a handbook of best practices at border crossings developed by the OSCE and the UN Economic Commission for Europe was presented on 4 October 2013 in Tirana.

“We have to see that borders are as safe as possible, but at the same time they have to be as open as possible. By co-operating to make this possible we will strengthen stability in the region. Borders should help to bring people closer to each other,” said the Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania, Ambassador Florian Raunig.

The director of Albania’s Customs Administration, Elisa Spiropali, also stressed the need for secure and open borders and welcomed the Presence’s readiness to deliver training and assistance on issues covered by the manual.

The event was also attended by Zineb Touimi-Benjelloun, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Albania, and Henry Jardine, Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy, which funded the translation of the handbook.

Originally published in English in 2012, the Handbook of Best Practices at Border Crossings – A Trade and Transport Facilitation Perspective provides an overview of tools and methodologies that can be used to harmonize and simplify existing procedures for moving legitimate cargo. It includes over 120 examples of best practices. Topics covered include available legal instruments, inter-agency and international co-operation, balancing security and facilitation measures, processing of freight, risk management, design of border crossing points, use of ICT technologies, human resource management and performance measurements. The handbook targets transport and trade ministries, customs agencies, freight and logistics business communities, civil society and academia.

All language versions are downloadable from: //www.osce.org/eea/88200