American Serwer: Western Balkan States first overcome political barriers

In a look at it following the summit of leaders of six Western Balkan states, organised by the Atlantic Council, he has said that despite the weight of Balkan economic integration, leaders should testify to the readiness to overcome political barriers.

It is true that regional economic integration presents great opportunities. But the Western Balkan states must prove that they are willing to overcome political barriers to do the job. Therefore, the participation of leaders is necessary for common problems: Only they can remove political barriers and reach for economic benefits”, he writes in the view published in “Pacediska”, while adding that he would not be surprised if they hesitate, so that the EU and the US would have to intervene.

As Serwer points out, almost every commercial issue can be viewed through the prism of state sovereignty and political aspect.

Serbia has many non-tariff barriers blocking imports and moving from Kosovo. Bosnia too. For both of them, the reasons are political, not economic. Until the Prespa Agreement, the road to Thessaloniki has not been free for trade from Northern Macedonia, and talks are continuing to remove barriers. And not to mention here the EU's refusal to liberalise the visas for Kosovo, which Pristina has approved by implementing more than 100 per cent of technical conditions. But political circumstances have not yet been created”, he wrote.

Cerwer has also referred to Serbian President Alexander Vuciqi's speech on this summit.

“As Serbian President Vuciq stressed, it took 7 or 8 years just to start working on the section of the highway between Nis and Pristina -- part that built between Pristina and Durres during that time” -- he wrote.