The Open Balkans is a mechanism to implement the Berlin process and to accelerate the integration process of the region, said PM Edi Rama in the interpellation in parliament requested by the Democratic Party MP, Tritan Shehu.
Speaking in plenary session Rama said on Thursday that the Open Balkans is not a replacement, nor alienation, nor transformation into something else of the Berlin process or of the process of European integration of Albania itself.
The head of government said that specifically Albania has 371 exporters in North Macedonia and 165 in Serbia. On the other hand, he said that out of 165 Albanian exporters in Serbia, 57 of them are exporters of fruits and vegetables, which are currently in activity for years, regardless of what is being discussed and the political background.
Rama said that the idea and vision of the Berlin process are clear to all, while in terms of the Open Balkan mechanism, Albania, according to him, is the first to start with framework agreements to implement the Berlin process. He mentioned two previously signed agreements with Kosovo and Montenegro for a “one stop shop” on the reciprocal borders and one with North Macedonia.
Giving the example of Montenegro, Rama said that “to transit in Montenegro, according to company data, only the cost for veterinary control is 80 euros, plus 20 euros for the customs agency, i.e. 100 euros for customs clearance, I do not speak for the waiting time.”
“The mechanism of the Open Balkans and all those agreements that we are making and that we have put in the way of implementation, some of which will be signed a few weeks later, before the holidays here in Tirana, will created facilities for all the companies I mentioned and about 500 Albanian companies to be exponential in relation to the difficulties they have today,” said Albanian premier Rama.
There is an ongoing debate on this mechanism even beyond the borders of Albania with prominent politicians, specialists and diplomats saying that it will help Serbia to achieve its scheme of Greater Serbia.
Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia have not joined this initiative launched by Serb President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian PM Edi Rama who were joined by the former Premier of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev. / Argumentum.al
