Kosovo rejected participation, what is expected to happen at the next meeting of “Open Balkan”

So it says in the text of Memorandum of Understanding, in which Free Europe Radio has had access and which representatives of the three countries must sign in the Macedonian city of Ohrid at the “Open Balkans initiative meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, 8 June.

In addition, agreements on recognition of higher education diplomas will be signed in Ohrid, as well as memorandums for cultural co-operation and in the area of tourism.

None of the four planned documents mention enlargement, but appeal to other states interested in future co-operation.
Montenegrin representative Dritan Abazovic will also attend the Ohrid summit for the first time.

He has been criticised by a portion of the public in his country because he does not rule out Montenegro's membership potential in “Open Balkans”, an initiative launched in 2019, which until now, despite EU support, as well as the former and current US administration, failed to expand.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has rejected Northern Macedonia Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski's invitation to participate in the Open Balkans initiative

The three initiators -- Edi Rama, Albania's prime minister, Aleksandar Vuciq, Serbia's president and Zoran Zaev, the former prime minister of Northern Macedonia -- conceived this concept with the aim of creating an area of free movement of people, goods and services in the Western Balkans.

What is stated in the tax section?

In the tax-related Memorandum text, which will be signed ten months after the Western Balkans initiative was officially named “Open Balkans “, instead of the previous name “mini-Schengen”, signatories reportedly account for the additional “importance of co-operation in the fight against tax evasion, consciously, tax evasion.

This document's “Descriptions will not result in separate decisions or activities that are mandatory and imposed on either side or third side”.

Among other things, a total of eight articles of the agreement stress the need for joint work to encourage the fulfilment of tax obligations in all three countries and that each side can assign a person to coordinate activities on its behalf.

Each side also pays its own expenses for the application of the Memorandum.

Speed up diploma recognition

In the text of the envisioned agreement in the area of mutual recognition of diplomas, in which Free Radio Europe has had access, the initiative advocates accelerating procedures for recognising higher education diplomas between Serbia, Albania and Northern Macedonia.

The seven- article agreement refers to fifth-level qualifications (high education), as well as to levels six to eight of the European Framework of Qualifications (from the knowledge and skills of advanced education to the high one).

It is specified that the diplomat with the stamp of the competent institution is subject to direct recognition. The seal is a sign of legalisation of documents used in international legal correspondence.

If suspicion of the authenticity of the diploma arises, the possibility is that through electronic route it will be required of the institution that issued it. The deadline for response from that address is 14 days, while for complete completion of the recognition process, 20 days.

It is specified that diplomas in Albania will be recognised by the Centre for Education Services at the Ministry of Education, in Serbia by the Agency for Professional Recognitions, as well as in Northern Macedonia by the Unit for Recognition of the Ministry of Education's professional diplomas.

The three members of the Open “Balkan” invite the other Western Balkan countries to join the Agreement.

Memorandum for Cultural Exchange

As it said, to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, the three sides aim to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for cultural co-operation in the Western Balkans.

In the seven articles of Memorandum, signatories commit themselves to encouraging the mobility of cultural workers and deepening institutional co-operation.

The contracting parties say they will try to harmonise the criteria and increase the number of contests for financing cultural projects.

The priority will be given to mobile projects that are innovative, experimental and/or multi-disciplinary, as well as to connect potential operators from several contracting parties”, the document says.

Article 6 of the memorandum specifys that signatory states will draw up a joint cultural “cer”, “in the fastest possible”.

Tourist Map Planned

In the Memorandum of Understanding in the area of tourism in the Western Balkans, which should also be signed in Ohrid, it envisions the formation of a tourist map called the “Open Balkans”.

Signatories are obliged to encourage contacts between their tourist organisations and workers, as well as to predict the creation of specific working groups for the field.

“Forming specific working groups, the contracting parties take over to identify the legal framework in the field of tourism, as well as to launch efforts to harmonise their laws in order to comply mutually with the system of tourist operators”, specified at one of eight articles in Memorandum.

Signatories also stress that they will try to exchange information for their legislation in the field of protecting natural resources and preserving historical and cultural heritage, which are tourist attractions.

The contracting sides, in line with their domestic laws, will promote creating favourable conditions for attracting investments to the tourism industry”, it is also said.

As an element of agreement between the three parties in the field of tourism, it is estimated that expanding sea, river and lake tourism can be considered the <x0).