This is Rama's joint statement, Vuciqi and Zaev for “

The KOHA Group has secured the joint declaration of the three heads of state.

President Aleksandar Vuciq stressed that the goal is for citizens of Serbia and Albania to cross the border only with ID cards, and this is expected to be achieved by 2021. Meanwhile, the next meeting between the three states will take place on November 10th in Ohrid, North Macedonia, and a month later leaders will gather in Albania.

On paper, the three-way calls it a bold initiative, until they say they will work to achieve results and practical solidarity, so that the citizens of these countries will benefit.

According to them, the ultimate goal of this effort is to imitate some of the best practices that would put an end to customs barriers on our borders and ensure the free movement of persons, goods and services in the Western Balkans”.

It also shows what will take place as a first step.

As a first step, we engage to eliminate border controls and other obstacles to free movement within the region, as soon as possible and not further than 2021. According to the World Bank, trucks spend approximately 26 million hours a year at border crossings within the Western Balkans. This leaves room for considerable improvement in our current approaches, which make our economies slower and more expensive than required to compete in the global economy”, it says on paper.

“People will be able to travel to the region with a valid ID card. They will be able to work anywhere in the region once they qualify for a job. Diplomats will be recognised throughout the region. We will increase co-operation against international organised crime and pledge to help each other by responding to emergencies such as natural disasters”, the letter further says.

Kosovo has expressed itself against this initiative, with the argument that it is aimed at restoring the former Yugoslavia, which produced so much tragedy in the Balkans.

Below is the complete joint statement of the three heads of state:

Common statement by the president of the Republic of Serbia, prime minister of the Republic of Albania and prime minister of the Republic of Northern Macedonia for “Z THE FOOOD BOD EUROPEAN IN BALLKAN IN GOD”

We, aware of the responsibility to form the fates of our countries, engage to strengthen peace, equality, rule of law and prosperity for present and future generations in Southeast Europe.

recognising the importance of our common EU accession perspective and full commitment to mutual support, respect and assistance on the European road,

We invite leaders of six Western Balkan countries to join in this effort.

Voicing willingness to strengthen regional co-operation, generate economic growth, reduce unemployment, fight illegal migration, fight organised international crime and improve the social welfare of our citizens, and increase trade, investment and employment in the area of six Western Balkan countries,

Taking into account the process of establishing Regional Economic Zone (REA) in the six Western Balkan countries, as predicted by the “Multiyear-old Action Plan”, adopted at the summit of the Western Balkan Prime Ministers, in Trieste, in July 2017, as part of the Berlin Process,

Repeating the commitment to implement Regional Economic Zones in the six countries of the Western Balkans based on EU inclusion and principles for “Four Freedoms”: Free movement of goods, services, people and capital,

basing on commitments made by countries in the region, including CEFTA, WTO, as well as the WTO Trade Relief Agreement, MAPA and others, reconfirming our commitment to the Multiyear Action Plan (MAP), we welcome progress that has so far reached four pillars, in trade, investment, mobility and digital integration,

Taking into account and demanding the acceleration of the implementation of the “Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European communities and the Republic of Albania” and “Stabilisation and Association Agreement between European communities and their member states and the Republic of Northern Macedonia”, and our commitments reflected in the EU strategy of February 2018> A reliable perspective for the enlargement of the Western Balkans to add to a positive commitment of the Western Balkans (4)7>

As follows, we let us know our intention to deepen the Regional Economic Zone in the Western Balkans.

Since the Thessaloniki Summit (2003), the process of regional co-operation was seen as an instrument of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. With the start of the Berlin Process (2014) and the Trieste Summit (2017), the concept of regional co-operation rose to a higher level, introducing concrete measures such as infrastructure, trade, investment, movement and digitalism. The project of building a common market and an integrated region was reflected later on in the EU Strategy in February 2018, “A reliable prospect of expanding for a further EU engagement with the Western Balkans”. This effort is widely seen as essential in creating new development opportunities and increasing the capacity of generating higher growth levels in the region.

The EU has been the main driver of the transformation of the entire region, at least since that expansion was promised. Waiting for EU membership, the region itself immediately seeks a considerable boost in growth. Therefore, Western Balkan leaders must be more engaged in promoting the potential of development that is still untapped in the Balkans.

A more active and creative approach to the flow of goods and capital is needed, the movement of people and cross-border co-operation, the integration of services and labour. Leaders of the region must assume responsibility to form the future of the region and make policies aimed at ensuring the free movement of human and material capitals. This is essential not only to make the region more integrated but also to foster overall development throughout the Western Balkans. The European integration process is passed through the process of regional co-operation.

All six Western Balkan countries seek membership in the European Union. Despite that, structural gaps between the EU and the Western Balkans remain considerable. GDP, with market prices, in 28 EU countries is more than 100 times that of the six Western Balkan countries, which in 2018 amounted to about 108 billion euros, while the average rate of EU unemployment for the same year is almost three times that of six Western Balkan countries. This shows that Western Balkan leaders face an urgent need to address this structural imbalance, which can very easily turn into a barrier to EU membership in the long run. Moreover, unresolved issues within the Western Balkans Six are hampering economic development and lowering the quality of the lives of its citizens.

So far, the regional co-operation process has shown tangible benefits for people of the Western Balkans. Since 2010, more than 600,000 jobs increased in Western Balkan economies, and more than 500,000 highly educated workers entered the workforce. This contributed to a stronger export performance, greater competition and a broader presence on international markets. The process of regional co-operation, as envisioned under the Multi-Annuity Plan for the Regional Economic Zone, will also strengthen these positive trends.

Leaders of the Western Balkans must act on the new political and economic situation in the region. The majority of Western Balkan citizens believe that regional co-operation can contribute positively to their economies. Company leaders express concern about bureaucratic restrictions, which hinder expansion in regional markets. More strong political commitments are needed to create the right conditions to achieve higher and more stable levels in economic growth.

Free movement of goods, services, capitals and labour across the region is the best way for a small region to grow in a globalised and constantly changing economy. This effort will unite some 20 million people in a common and unified market by improving living standards throughout the region, providing opportunities for our citizens and preparing the entire region for future EU membership. This project is inspired by already existing and successful models of borderless regions such as Benelux and Nordic region. The ultimate purpose of this effort is to imitate some of the best practices, which would put an end to customs barriers on our borders and ensure the free movement of persons, goods and services in the Western Balkans.

As a first step, we engage to eliminate border controls and other obstacles to free movement within the region, as soon as possible and not further than 2021.

According to the World Bank, trucks spend approximately 26 million hours a year at border crossings within the Western Balkans. This leaves room for considerable improvement in our current approaches, which make our economies slower and more expensive than required to compete in the global economy.

People will be able to travel to the region with a valid ID card. They will be able to work anywhere in the region once they qualify for a job. Diplomats will be recognised throughout the region. We will increase co-operation against international organised crime and pledge to help each other by responding to emergencies such as natural disasters.

This is a bold initiative and we will work on achieving results and practical solidarity, so that our citizens will have benefits.

To that end, we will meet again in Ohrid on November 10th.