EU is asking the Western Balkans to create a joint regional market, but one that includes all 6 countries, not only Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, but Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Hercegovina as well.
The spokesperson for Neighborhood and Enlargement for the EU, Ana Pisonero told ‘Express Newspaper’ today in Brussels that she “welcomes the engagements of political leaders for regional cooperation”, but that “it is fundamental that the process includes the entire region”.
Pisonero made a reminder that regional cooperation “is a fundamental element of the European perspective of the Western Balkans” while being “a part of the process of Stabilization-Association”.
Earlier, the US Department of State shared a similar approach pointing to all-inclusivity.
On November 2020, the Second Summit was held in Sofia after the one of 2018, where countries of the region signed the joint agenda for the “Green Agreement” as well as the “Common Regional Market”.
The agreement for a regional market aims to achieve the free movement of people, goods, services and capital by the year 2024.
Earlier on November 2019, leaders from Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia had declared the regional initiative ‘Minischengen”, which aimed to form a joint economic zone and free movement.
Montenegro, Bosnia Hercegovina and Kosovo refused to become part of this initiative. The latter, considered it unfair and a blockade, for as long as Serbia doesn’t recognize its sovereignty and independence.
On July 29th during the Economic Forum of Skopje the name of this initiative was changed to “Open Balkan”.
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