Skopje, 25 July 2022 (MIA) – The objective of the Open Balkan is to carry us forward towards development, integration, competitiveness, freedom of movement, facilitation of procedures, solidarity and assistance. I believe Open Balkan is more than an idea and initiative, having the capacity to respond to the needs and provide operational solutions, said Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi at the opening of the plenary session of the Open Balkan inter-governmental working groups in Tirana on Monday. “It is time to focus on results, tangible and visible results that arise from the citizens’ real needs, which means they are authentic and organic. Here we have three countries negotiating for EU accession and we all know the Open Balkan’s potential to accelerate required reforms. This is our path and I hope other countries of the Western Balkans will join it very soon,” said Deputy PM Bytyqi. Working groups will focus on identifying operating frameworks and protocols in case of disasters and accidents, food and energy shortages, which countries have been facing as a result of the global crisis caused by the Russian invasion in Ukraine. “Each national economy has its own response mechanisms for these challenges but if the operational plan defined together with Albania and Serbia demonstrates that we can and should help through, for example, wheat quantities for our Open Balkan allies, we will find a way to do this, along with ways for joint promotion at the global market,” said Bytyqi. He also referred to the continued fight against wildfires. “We will develop plans and set up operational groups for urgent response when one of us needs assistance but also other countries in the region. We are prepared to help everyone because aid knows no boundaries,” noted Bytyqi. Over the next two days, the inter-governmental groups will discuss the joint efforts to overcome the energy crisis and ways to make savings, as well as the need to remove the requirement for work permits.