Germany: We are aware of the Open Balkans, any regional co-operation in the Western Balkans is to be welcomed

The German government considers it a <x0 emergency task” to live up to the Common Regional Market Action Plan agreements, approved at the Sofia summit in 2020.

In a written response to Deutsche Welle, a German government spokesman recalls that <x0 heads of state and government of six Western Balkan countries at the recent summit of the Berlin “Process” on 5 July, at the invitation of the federal Chancellor, stated their efforts to implement this important project. ”

He adds that the accords of four freedoms should be signed by 6 October this year, when the next EU summit with the Western Balkans is held, so that the “can achieve tangible improvements for citizens of the six Western Balkan countries”.

The Action Plan for the Common Regional Market agreements have been adopted in principle by all six Western Balkan countries and aim to regulate freedom of movement with ID cards, entry, movement and attitude for third-nation citizens, recognition of licenses for doctors, dentists and architects, as well as recognition of university diplomas.

Berlin Process's Includement Forum Priorities

Deutsche Welle questions how the German government supports the „Open Balkans initiative” the spokesman answered in summary: the German government is aware of the Open Balkans initiative. From the German federal government's perspective, any regional co-operation in the Western Balkans is to be welcomed. ”

In writing, the German government gives no direct answer to Deutsche Welle's questions about how Chancellor Merkel praises the Open Balkans initiative and what role the Open Balkans “Balkani plays in implementing the Action Plan for Common Regional Market.

With this statement, the German government hints that its priority is the realisation of agreements issued by the comprehensive Berlin Process forum. Recognisors of the Balkan European integration processes assess this forum as the only platform accompanying the region's integration process towards the European Union and gives the chance to all Western Balkan countries to express their priorities.

Despite German Attitude

Last week, the German government's possible approach to the Open Balkans initiative was interpreted in various ways by the governments of Albania and Kosovo, but also in broad opinion.

The idea of the Balkans, once known as “mini-Shengen”, was first introduced in Novi Sad of Serbia on October 10th 2019, by leaders of Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania.

On 29 July 2021, at an economic forum held in Skopje, this initiative was changed to <x0-2>Open Balkan” and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the one in northern Macedonia, Zoran Zaev and Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, called on all countries in the region to join this initiative, which, among other things, aims to lift cross-border controls between the countries for goods and human circulation.

Kosovo is one of the countries that strongly opposes this initiative, as it says Serbia benefits most.

In the first week of August, the Kosovo Parliament reinforced its refusal to the Balkan Open Initiative (formerly Mini Schengen) with a resolution against the Kosovo-Serbia agreement of September 4th 2020.

Full text of the government spokesman's statement:

The German government is aware of the „Open Balkan” initiative. From the German federal government's perspective, any regional co-operation in the Western Balkans is to be welcomed. At the same time, it is important that co-operation is inclusive and open to all six Western Balkan countries.

Therefore, the federal government supports the Action Plan for a Common Regional Trade, adopted at the Berlin “Procession” in Sofia in November 2020. The heads of state and government of six Western Balkan countries at the recent summit of the Berlin “Process “on 5 July at the invitation of the federal Chancellor, stated their efforts to implement this important project.

The most urgent task now is to close negotiations for four agreements: for freedom of movement with ID cards, for entry, freedom of movement and residence permits for citizens of third countries, for recognition of licenses for doctors, dentists and architects, and recognition of university diplomas, so that progress and tangible improvements are achieved at the EU-Western Balkans Summit. The German Chancellor noted this even at the media conference following the Berlin Process Summit on July 5th.”.