The Open Balkan could be an opportunity to accelerate the way into the European Union, said Oliver Varhelyi in his address at the Open Balkan summit held in Ohrid this Wednesday.
The EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement said EU integration begins with the economy and the society, adding that initiative clears the path to integration.
“When we talk about EU accession, we talk about processes, agencies, negotiating frameworks, non-papers, and so on. But to be frank with you, and maybe I shouldn’t say this is as a commissioner, but this is not interesting, this is not interesting at all for our people, for our people in Europe or in the Western Balkans, because I think that their main question is: When are we going to live as they live in Europe? When are we going to have the same chances and possibilities, economically, and socially as the people in the European Union? And when are we going to see all the barriers removed between the EU and the WB?”, Varhelyi said.
“Real integration starts with the economy and the society. That is why I was very happy when I heard the idea. At the time it was called mini-Schengen”.
EU Commissioner commended the initiative as a “remarkable idea” given that it came up from the region and was not enforced by the EU.
He also expressed his support for the continuation of the initiative.
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