Belgrade, 4 November 2021 (MIA) – The Open Balkan initiative is complementary to European integration. Open Balkan means that borders will be less significant while using the potential to increase growth and stability, thus benefiting the Euro-integration process, said Deputy PM for European Affaris Nikola Dimitrov, MIA reports from Belgrade. Dimitrov told a press conference after the Open Balkan meeting it is difficult to find a better example than North Macedonia on what happens when the EU fails to deliver on its promises. “Then the European ballot becomes less attractive and citizens lose faith in a European future,” said Dimitrov. The Deputy PM added, however, it is not fair to criticize the entire Union because the problem lies in one member-state. “In the Enlargement Package, the European Commission says the delay of the integration process of North Macedonia and Albania undermines EU’s credibility in the entire region. This veto not only blocks our European future, but also the European policy in the Balkans. This is a veto of Macedonian and Bulgarian friendship,” said Dimitrov. Regional cooperation, he noted, is something that can be done while waiting for such issues to be resolved within the EU. “The goal of the European integration is to strengthen my homeland, to strengthen the region, to strengthen democracies, to have just societies, and we are individually working on this. Stakes are getting higher but they are not only ours and of the region,” said Dimitrov. According to him, the EU must prevent local failure if it wants wants to be a global player. “The region is a local problem. If they can’t take action here, then how can they do that globally,” concluded Dimitrov.