The region wants to be one. “Open Balkans” is the best message the region can bring. “Open Balkans” not only promotes regional cooperation but also achieves regional cooperation. Your regional cooperation is good for both the EU and the Western Balkans.
This was stated by EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhei in his welcoming address online at a meeting of the initiative being held in Tirana.
– Keep the doors of this initiative open. I invite the other three countries, Montenegro, BiH and Kosovo. “I support your initiative,” Varhei said.
He stressed that only through a common market can the Balkans have a third of GDP growth.
“Infrastructure connection will have no point, if trucks and vehicles stop at every border, there is no point in creating an investment climate, if diplomas are not recognized, there is no point in investment climate if there is no free movement of goods, services, capital,” he said.
Regarding EU enlargement, he said there had been progress with Serbia-Montenegro in this regard this year, expressing regret that the first intergovernmental conferences with Northern Macedonia and Albania had not been opened.
– I understand the frustration of Prime Minister Zaev, but do not forget that we have made progress in the enlargement process this year. We opened clusters with Serbia, and the second intergovernmental conference with the new methodology was held with Montenegro. But I do not hide the fact, as well as my regret for the fact that we still do not have the first intergovernmental conferences with Northern Macedonia and Albania, we need to achieve that quickly, the first signal we need to see is a clear perspective from the EU to happened, and that was included in the conclusions of the Council of the EU. “I think it should be taken very seriously, and now is the time to make it a reality and have all the agreements on the table for that to happen,” Varheji told an Open Balkans meeting.
Source: MIA
