The leaders of Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia signed six agreements on Tuesday (December 21), facilitating the free movement of trade, people and services in the three Western Balkan countries.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was joined by his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev and Serbian President Aleksander Vučić in the Albanian town of Elbasan Just one day after protests in the Albanian capital against the initiative, the Serbian flag was burned and several arrests took place.
The agreements are part of the so-called Open Balkans initiative, formerly called Mini-Schengen. It contemplates cross-border trade, residence, business and travel of citizens of each country, within each signatory country.
The aim is to create a border-free zone that facilitates open trade and investment between Western Balkan countries before progressing towards EU membership, which still remains distant.
Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not signed the initiative, citing Serbia’s failure to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty, as well as fears that the project could jeopardize their EU membership and keep outside the block.
“The agreements that will be signed will constitute an important step forward towards our goal; guarantee complete freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services,” Rama said in his opening speech and reiterated his call “for everyone to join.”
“’Open Balkans’ is an inclusive initiative that certainly encourages the other three countries in the region to take part in this effort. As we move forward for the betterment of our people,” Rama added.
He highlighted that Open Balkan is part of the Berlin Process – an initiative aimed at strengthening regional cooperation between Western Balkan countries and their European integration – and is an important step in their preparation for European integration.
Responding to concerns that the EU might not support the initiative, Rama introduced Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi and asked if he supported Open Balkan.
Varhelyi responded: “I have always been very positive about this proposal… You must continue to promote this initiative… I admire how committed you are to this initiative.
He added that “we in the EU believe that, under EU rules, any regional cooperation is welcome and in the interest of both parties…I have invited the other three partners to return to regional cooperation because not only does it increase business opportunities, but it provides increased employment. This can change realities on the ground.
In his opening speech, Vučić reiterated the call for other countries to join the initiative, adding that it “lays the foundation for the future of our children.”
“The goal is to connect people to each other. So that people can interact with each other. Last night, during a meeting with companies, I noticed a great desire on their part to do business in Serbia or North Macedonia; I also know Serbian businessmen who want to invest in Albania and North Macedonia. It’s the same for tourists,” he said.
Zaev said this would be his last open meeting on the Balkans, probably because of his promise to resign as prime minister.
In his speech, he said that this initiative shows that the three countries “will not be held hostage in the European integration process.”
“The Open Balkan brought us together as three great leaders; it’s a great friendship that we have been able to develop together. This initiative is for the good of our citizens and is an instrument to let go of our troubled past.
A total of six agreements were signed on Tuesday. These include the agreement on the conditions for free access to the labor market, the agreement on the connection of electronic identification systems for citizens and the agreement on cooperation in veterinary safety, phytosanitary and food security in the Western Balkans.
Agreements were also signed between Serbia and Albania on the mutual recognition of licensed business entities in matters of security and safety, as well as between North Macedonia and Albania.
The sixth agreement concerns the cooperation of the accreditation bodies of the three countries.
Concretely, citizens of the three countries will now be able to live in one of the other countries without a permit, have their qualifications recognized and goods and services will cross borders with a minimum of controls.
“Very soon, at the start of the new year, they (exporters, importers and farmers) will no longer experience the stress of waiting at the border,” Rama said.
(Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic)
