8.5 million EUR for “Crown Agents”

Top Channel has a copy of the agreement which recently has turned into a hot topic between the majority and opposition. According to the agreement, the money will be given through a two-year period, with two installments of 4.25 million EUR.

But the draft has foreseen that this payment might drop to 25%, if the British doesn’t bring as result an increase of the revenues, for which the parties have agreed. The government has decided that the payment for Crown Agents should be net payment, and they will be excluded from every tax obligation, including tax on profit, tax on dividend, VAT, social insurances and income tax for the foreign experts that will come to Tirana.

The agreement also shows the rights and obligations of both parties. According to this agreement, “Crown Agents” will assist the customs staff in the information analyze. The British company will also assist the customs staff that investigates, inspects and verifies. The company will also report to the Ministry of Finances for every case of abuse, corruption or similar phenomena, including even those in which customs employees have been involved.

The agreement’s term is two years, with a renewal option in the third. This agreement has been attacked by the Albanian opposition recently, which has called it a suspicious agreement.

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