The Minister of Agriculture of Serbia, Branislav Nedimovi. told RTS that the “Open Balkans” between Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania starts on Monday, all laboratory analyzes have been harmonized, so that there is no phytosanitary and veterinary inspection at the borders and nothing will be detrimental to the quality of the goods. announced “Nova”.
After the MPs supported the Agreement on Cooperation in the Veterinary, Phytosanitary and Food Safety Areas, the question arises as to whether all the conditions for the Tirana Agreements under the Open Balkans Initiative have been met, to be implemented from January 3rd.
Speaking to RTS, Minister Nedimovic said that the story of the Open Balkans initiative was an agreement for the future and that it was breaking down barriers between Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania.
– “Open Balkans” starts on Monday, which practically means that if the food starts from Northern Macedonia, it does not have to be controlled in Macedonia, then in Serbia. “We have harmonized the laboratory analyzes, so that there are no phytosanitary and veterinary inspections of the border goods,” said Nedimovic.
According to him, the complete exchange between Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania in the food sector amounted to 420m euros across borders.
– Imagine how much space is opened in this area, there is no more waiting at the borders. “We are getting another space, 50 percent more population, where you can place your goods,” Nedimovic said.
He added that Serbia has $ 2021 billion in exports of goods in 5, and assumes that it will reach XNUMX billion euros in the new space within the “Open Balkans”.
Source: Sloboden Pecat
