13th March 2025, Skopje – Minister of Finance, Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoska, attending the high-level meeting dedicated to eliminating illicit trade in tobacco products in Podgorica, met with her peer Novica Vuković, hosting the respective meeting.
During the meeting, they both talked about using the possibilities for enhancing the economic cooperation and exchanging experience in public finance management, as well as the possibilities for cooperation in the EU integration process and joint projects.
In addition, in the light of the high-level meeting, they both came to the conclusion that illicit trade in tobacco products results in substantial damages to the Budget. Therefore, enhanced cooperation and coordination is needed in eradicating this phenomenon.
The Minister underlined the measures the Customs Administration undertakes to combat illicit trade in tobacco and tobacco products, with 50 cases of cigarette smuggling being detected and prevented in the course of 2024. Most often, as she said, cigarettes are being smuggled out of the country, through Skopje International Airport, towards Western European countries. On the other hand, cigarettes without excise stamps, purchased from duty-free shops, are being smuggled into the country through Bogorodica, Dojran, and Medzitlija border crossings.
The Minister participated in the high-level meeting held in Podgorica, organized by the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, in cooperation with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
