American Oda for Kurt reciprocity: We do not support barriers that prevent the free circulation of goods

Co-operation for the Balkan Mini-Sengen, initiative launched by Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, is expected to be finalised on 21 December at the Durres meeting.

But such an initiative is seen as unreasonable by the American Economic Oda in Kosovo (OEAK).

The chairman of this Ode, Arian Zeka, tells Economy Online that Balkan states must first implement the CEFTA agreement, and then look at other opportunities for co-operation.

He says the CEFTA agreement should not be created without full implementation.

What needs to be said is that numerous barriers exist in terms of proper and full implementation of the CEFTA agreement, often Balkan states that are signatories and participants in the CEFTA agreement have put various tax barriers on each other. Without eliminating all these barriers without fully implementing the CEFTA agreement I believe it's too early to talk about creating any new platforms of co-operation as it is about the new state-sengen.

However, it says it cannot be predicted now if Kosovo wins in case of involvement on this platform.

No Kosovo involvement within such initiative may be hard to comment on what possible benefits would be for Kosovo. Especially in economic terms”, he says.

Zeka has also spoken of the idea of Vetevendosje candidate for prime minister, Albin Kurti, who is saying he will impose full reciprocity on Serbia.

He says he does not support any tax barrier that prevents the free circulation of goods that is guaranteed even with the CEFTA agreement.

I wouldn't comment because it's still at the level of the political promise that was made during the time of the campaign and therefore we at the American Oda don't comment on such promises. What I can say is that we as the American Ode do not support any tax barrier, or tax, that prevents the free flow of goods and capital within the member states of the Central European Free Trade Agreement, including Kosovo and other states of the Western Balkans region”, he says.

The Balkan Schengen idea is not seen with a good eye either in Brussels, where regional initiatives are said to be welcome but should not be exclusive, referring to Kosovo.

Against this initiative was US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer.