CEFTA

History of CEFTA

CEFTA was initially established in 1992 by the VisegrádGroup countries, namely Poland, Hungary, Czechia, and Slovakia, to facilitate economic integration and prepare for EU accession.  

 

As these countries joined the EU in May 2004, CEFTA was expanded to include a number of Southeast European partners. This expansion, formalised in December 2006 through the conclusion of the “Agreement on amendment of and accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement”, aimed to foster economic growth and stability in the region, particularly in the Western Balkans. 

 

To accommodate the new CEFTA Parties and their specific economic needs, the CEFTA Agreement was substantially revised. Key changes included: 

  • Enlarged membership: The agreement was extended to include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia; 
  • Deepened economic integration: The agreement aims to go beyond traditional free trade and foster deeper economic cooperation, including the harmonisation of regulations, technical standards, and customs procedures; and 
  • Alignment with EU standards:The agreement emphasises the importance of aligning CEFTA’s rules and regulations with EU standards to facilitate future integration with the EU.