Skopje, 25 September 2023 (MIA) – The tax and customs policies of the countries of the region, with a focus on North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, were the topics of Monday’s conference on regional integration through improved tax and customs systems in Western Balkans, hosted Monday by the Association for Research and Analysis ZMAI, with the support of the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia.

According to a press release from ZMAI, the findings of the analysis of the tax and customs systems of the three countries were presented at the conference. A special emphasis was placed on the recommendations aimed at improving the tax and customs systems of the countries, in order to ensure a more successful regional integration. This, according to the press release, is an important step if the countries want to orient themselves towards the European Union and one day become a part of the free market.

The main researcher and former Finance Minister Dragan Tevdovski, said the countries of the region must create policies which mean investment in human capital. He proposed the abandoning of the so-called “race to the bottom” in terms of direct taxes, and the creation of policies that will attract highly qualified staff, noting that greater migration will require the countries to invest more in their human capital.

Tax expert Pavle Gacov noted that the main fight of the countries of the region should be against the informal economy. “Which,” he said, “enables unfair competition and slows down the growth of the private sector, as well as of the human capital.” 

ZMAI researcher Ksenija Popovikj-Kocevska, said that there are several segments that could be improved in the field of customs policies. One of them is a fully paper-free work, i.e., a digitization of all internal and external customs processes. This, according to her, would reduce opportunities for bribery and corruption, as well as simplifying and accelerating the work at the borders. In terms of the reduction of customs expenses and barriers, Popovikj-Kocevska said the countries should be moving in the direction of their removal. However, it is key that the protective mechanisms are removed jointly, by all countries of the region, she said.

The conference was also addressed by the head of the Public Revenue Office, Sanja Lukarevska, the head of the trade chamber at the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce, Sasho Dukovski, and the advisor to the director of the Customs Administration, Mitko Dimitrovski.

Photo: ZMAI