Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today in Skopje at the Western Balkans - EU meeting that it is important for the region to be connected and added that Serbia will be open to all ideas about a common regional market and is ready to realize them.
"For us, the green belts are more important than the Single European Payments Area (SEPA), which is also important. I do not ignore or underestimate the importance of SEPA, but for us the green belts are of the utmost importance. It will be of great benefit in creating a better business environment for for all of us, for our people, but also for everyone else who would like to invest in this region," Vučić said at the meeting on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans adopted by the European Commission.
Vučić said that he "has a big request for everyone from regional organizations and from the European Union" to help the region, which will have to harmonize when it comes to economic measures, subsidy policy and everything else, before it enters the EU.
In addition to Vučić and the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, who is the host, the Western Balkans - EU summit dedicated to the Growth Plan for the region will be attended by the Prime Ministers of Albania, Edi Rama, Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, Kosovo, Aljbin Kurti, and the Minister of Finance and Treasury of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Srđan Amidžić, as well as the Director General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission Gert Jan Kopman and US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien.
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North Macedonia's Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Maričić and Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi, their colleagues from the Western Balkans, representatives of the Council for Regional Cooperation, CEFTA, the Comoros Investment Forum, USAID, the Open Society Foundation, the Center for Europe, the Atlantic Council, are also present. as well as representatives of several international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank.
The growth plan for the Western Balkans, which was adopted by the European Commission in November last year, foresees financial support of six billion euros for the period 2024-2027. Of these funds, two billion are non-reimbursable grants, and four billion are preferential loans given by the EU. The purpose of the Plan is to stimulate economic growth and accelerate socioeconomic adjustment.
Vučić: The labor market of the countries of the Open Balkans will include 11 million inhabitants
Vučić stated that two agreements will be signed today in Skopje and that a completely free labor market should enter into force in the countries of the Open Balkans - Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania - from March 1.
"This is great and important news for us, and I think it will greatly contribute to the creation of a better business environment for both domestic and foreign companies, overcoming the problem with the lack of manpower," Vučić told reporters after the "Western Balkans - EU" meeting in Skopje .
According to him, this means creating a labor market that is not 6,7 million inhabitants (Serbia alone), but about 11 million with Albania and North Macedonia.
Kovačevski: The growth plan is a bridge that connects aspirations with reality
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovačevski, said today that the goal of the meeting of the leaders of the Western Balkans in Skopje is to discuss the Regional Growth Plan, which represents a concrete EU action in terms of increasing regional cooperation between states, but also inclusion in the common European market.
"The talks started yesterday with a joint dinner for the leaders. The President of the BiH Council of Ministers will participate via video conference, and all the other leaders are present in Skopje today," Kovačevski said before the meeting began.
He pointed out that the participants will adopt a joint declaration that will represent a commitment to the implementation of activities that will be, firstly, reforms in the countries of the region, secondly, an increase in joint cooperation and thirdly, the implementation of activities from the Growth Plan and bring financial instruments in the amount of six billion euros, two billion grants and four billion in favorable loans that will be guaranteed by the EU.
"We are already discussing concrete activities, that is, joining SEPA, i.e. the abolition of a large number of non-tariff barriers, the introduction of green lines between countries with the aim of increasing trade, reducing trade barriers, increasing the competitiveness of the economy of the Western Balkan countries and their faster inclusion in the common European market, before formal inclusion of states in the EU," Kovačevski said before the start of the Western Balkan leaders' meeting in Skopje.
He said that he sees the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans adopted by the European Commission as an intermediary that opens the gates to the countries of the region towards the single European market and the free flow of goods, services, capital and people.
"This structured framework strengthened by financial support becomes the key to seamless integration. It encourages the adoption of European regulations and standards, promoting integration both in the region and in the EU. The plan is a bridge that connects aspirations with reality," Kovačevski said in Skopje, at a meeting of Western Balkan leaders. on the European Commission's plan for regional growth.
As he pointed out, this double integration strategy not only accelerates the accession process, but also brings immediate benefits - increased trade and investment, improved competitiveness and regional connectivity.
Kovačevski, who is the host of the meeting, noted that the Growth Plan goes beyond economic strategies and is the real driving force towards the prosperous future of the Western Balkans.
"The plan is a strong symbol of unwavering commitment to reforms, a decisive step for transformation and for harmonizing national economies with high European standards. This instrument is a watershed moment for us. With it, the countries of the Western Balkans will accelerate fundamental reforms, creating a link between the common regional market. In the process , access to additional financial assistance becomes a key element. The Instrument for Reforms and Growth acts as a financial pillar that supports reforms," underlined Kovačevski.
Rama: The Western Balkans should be connected before joining the EU
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said today in Skopje that the countries of the Western Balkans should not wait to join the European Union, but that before that everyone in the region should connect with each other.
At the Western Balkans - European Union meeting on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, Rama said that the integration process is very long and that there is a big gap between what the EU member states get and what the region gets in the process of European integration.
"One of our neighboring countries that is part of the EU receives 4.000 euros per inhabitant from the EU every year. From the EU, from the budget, and here we receive 123 euros per inhabitant. That's a gap," said Rama.
According to him, it is a big challenge, especially for the region that aspires to become part of the European family.
Addressing the participants of the meeting in Skopje, Rama proposed two things - to form a political circle and to hold regular meetings with technical coordination.
"Although we are very enthusiastic today, we are still Balkans, you know, and if you don't come and unite us, we are ready to mess up again. Second, technical coordination. It is very important that the integration ministers of our six countries get a clear message from the leadership." , Rama said.
He also said that a joint dinner was held last night where the topic was not history but economics and which showed that a civilized conversation can be held.
"And that is much better than food," said Rama.
Kurti: EU support to the region should also be financial
Prime Minister of Kosovo Aljbin Kurti said today in Skopje that the values of the European Union should be reformed in the Western Balkans and that EU support should also be financial.
Before the meeting of Western Balkan and EU leaders on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans in the capital of North Macedonia, Kurti said that Kosovo and the entire region belong in the European Union.
"Today, the Republic of Kosovo will submit a list of reforms that were discussed, while in the following days we will also submit a list of indicative projects. As for reforms, we have the reform of public administration and public financial management, while among the projects we have those for the green agenda, digitization, investments in private sector and narrowing the infrastructure gap," he said.
Kurti noted that this plan accelerates the Balkans' path towards the EU, something that, according to him, is "both our goal and our destiny".
"The EU plan for the Western Balkans aims at the economic growth of the region, the acceleration of appropriate reforms and investments that can advance the process of EU enlargement with these countries. The value that the EU allocated for this plan, in the period 2024-2027, amounts to six billion euros," he said. is he.
Kurti: In order for the region to integrate economically, security threats must be stopped
Kurti stated today at the Western Balkans - EU meeting that security threats must be stopped in order to achieve economic integration of the region and bringing citizens closer together.
"Deeper integration and increased circulation of goods and people require mutual trust and normal relations between our countries, institutions and people. This cannot happen if the freedom of circulation of goods is used for the movement of weapons and ammunition or for sponsoring terrorist attacks," Kurti said.
He said that the normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade on the basis of mutual recognition is crucial.
"The EU represents the strategic choice of the leadership of our country. It is our duty to reform and fulfill the conditions, and the EU will then judge on its merits," Kurti said.
He emphasized that membership in the EU is essential, but also a choice.
"In liberal democracies, the power of the government is limited by the rule of law, and the freedoms and rights of individuals are supported by the constitution. The EU represents the strategic choice of the country's leaders. That is why it is our job to deliver these reforms, to create the conditions, and for the EU to judge on its merits and preserve fundamental values. EU," Kurti said.
Pristina, he added, is also preparing an "indicative list of infrastructure projects and the encouragement of economic development that will be financed (with European funds), which will accelerate growth and convergence with the EU".
"We fully accept an approach that conditions EU funds on EU values, increases the benefit for the citizens of the six Western Balkans, and at the same time accelerates full EU membership for those who are committed," Kurti said.
Kurti also said that Pristina is finalizing the reform plan, which will reform the public administration and advance the fight against corruption and organized crime.
"As we speak, our team is finalizing our reform agenda and will submit it to the EU. This comprehensive reform agenda should further reform public administration and improve the management of public funds," he added.
He pointed out that the reform plan of the Pristina authorities "specially focuses on the green agenda and digitization, and in the area of the private sector, it tries to improve investments and exports and further improve access to finance."
"It is aimed at providing quality education according to the needs of the market, and the most important thing is that this agenda for reforms will improve the fight against corruption and organized crime and will strengthen the protection of basic rights," Kurti said.
O'Brien: The countries of the Western Balkans have publicly declared that they will work together to enter the EU faster
US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien said that all the countries of the Western Balkans publicly declared today in Skopje that they will work together to become part of the EU faster.
"We have never seen a plan like the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. It does not say to make reforms that will be evaluated later, it says that if countries make certain reforms, then their companies and residents will have four freedoms that the European Union has very quick," O'Brien said.
O'Brien, speaking before the meeting of the leaders of the Western Balkans and the EU on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, said that with the representatives of the countries of the Western Balkans region, he will develop practical ideas that will free people to develop their economies and practical ways to do it.
"In addition to all the political problems that the states of the region have, every government has agreed and is now publicly declaring that they will work together so that their citizens become part of the EU faster," he said.
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