The future of the Western Balkans lies in creating a common regional market in order to boost the region’s economic integration and prepare it of the EU market, said the economy ministers at their Thursday’s meeting as part of the Berlin Process co-chairmanship of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
They also concluded that to establish so called ‘green lanes’ to guarantee free flow of essential goods and to connect to European corridors was top priority in improving regional economic cooperation.
At the meeting, support was reaffirmed for the Sofia Declaration on the Western Balkans’ Green Agenda, aimed at strengthening the efforts for meeting EU accession criteria and encouraging the region to focus on solving mounting environmental and climate challenges.
Addressing a session on common regional market, digital agenda and youth mobility, Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi said the common Western Balkans regional market was the driving force for improved economic integration and key step toward the EU’s single market, the Ministry of Economy said in a press release.
According to him, CEFTA activities aim at facilitating trade with goods and services and establishing regional e-trade. “CEFTA’s e-trade market is estimated at nearly EUR 1 billion. Our duty is to provide young and creative people with access to this market to create jobs. We should be also exporting goods and services online. CEFTA has approved a roadmap to lift the barriers hindering cross-border digital trade,” said Bekteshi.
He pledged it would be a top priority of North Macedonia in 2021 once it took over the CEFTA chairmanship.
“Western Balkans integration into the pan-European digital area by investing in broadband connectivity, increasing cyber security and digitizing the industry would strengthen the economy and society,” stated Minister Bekteshi.
Bulgaria’s Economy Minister Lachezar Borisov discussing the Western Balkans’ green agenda said it could modernize the regional economies to become more competitive.
“The Western Balkans Green Agenda is a chance for economic growth and regional economies to achieve climate neutrality by developing energy systems with less carbon. It is a difficult and responsible task especially in the context in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Borisov said.
In his opening address, Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi said the governments in the period to come should commit to creating coherent and consistent strategies, policies and measures in order to transform the region to be more competitive and more attractive for investors from EU countries.
According to him, it involves observing the principles of free movement of goods, people and capital, enabling a solid business climate for the investors by ensuring operational and effective systems to support and protect investments.
He noted that 2020 despite the coronavirus crisis should be perceived as an opportunity in the region. “We shouldn’t consider it an obstacle, it is a chance to strengthen regional development. Let’s seize the opportunity and develop a better future together,” Bytyqi said.
Furthermore, the ministers agreed that all documents reviewed at the meeting would be approved at the Western Balkans Summit of the Berlin Process, due to be held in Sofia on November 10, stated the press release.
