News
11/4/2021 01:24
The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Nikola along with the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama were welcomed this morning in Belgrade by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, who is hosting the working meeting as part of the “Open Balkans” initiative.
The agenda for the working meeting in Belgrade began with a meeting with representatives of companies from the three countries participating in the “Open Balkans” initiative, during which they exchanged ideas and viewpoints to facilitate trade between North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania by implementing specific steps to build a common regional market based on freedom of goods, labour, services and capital.
Mr. Dimitrov: “This initiative expresses the profound commitment to further the development of our countries and the direct benefits for the citizens. There is a strong and clear political will, and it is evident from our meeting today that the chambers of commerce also accept this initiative. The next steps should be focused on intensifying the public discussion regarding “Open Balkans” and specifying this confidence on a institutional level and delivering tangible results within the determined time frame.”
The discussion resulted in the adoption of the conclusions to implement concrete measures and activities to achieve the determined objectives, i.e. the operationalisation of free movement of people, by mutually recognising qualifications and work permits, termination of border controls for the free movement of goods, digital transformation, strengthening energy capacities, mutual response to accidents and natural disasters, extending travel and tourist offers and benefits for the region.
To this end, the introduction of an independent monitoring body has been proposed that will publicly report on the implementation of these obligations from the “Open Balkans” initiative and will observe the views of the public in terms of use of the benefits.
The working meeting will continue with the trilateral leaders’ meeting, after which the Deputy Prime Minister Dimitrov, President Vucic and Prime Minister Rama shall hold a press conference at 11:30.
You can find the link to the live press conference at: www.tanjug.rs