Skopje, 21 October 2024 (MIA) – Contributing to economic development by strengthening regional economic cooperation was high on the list of the Berlin Process from the start, because it was established as an additional process to support the Western Balkans while preparing for EU membership. Last week in Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz was clear when saying that it is about our joint future. As a member country, if you look at the EU accession process, it is guided by two elements – firstly top position of rule of law and economic integration secondly.

This was stated by German Ambassador Petra Drexler addressing an event titled “Improving regional cooperation: The path toward common regional market and EU integration of the Western Balkans”, organized by the European Policy Institute (EPI). 

“If you want the results from summits to be sustainable making sure the focus on implementation is maintained, it is vital the civil society and think tanks organizations to follow the process and become engaged from the start on how we will continue,” she stated.

According to the German diplomat, economic integration in this context means final integration in the common European market. 

“It is something that comes with major benefits and huge potential for all national economies – including the solidarity facilities, which are also present in North Macedonia and in other Western Balkan countries. What is sometimes neglected in public discussion is that it comes with huge challenges. The process is difficult and risky, the social standards of 17 million people in the Western Balkans should be coordinated,” stated Drexler. 

The Berlin Process, she stressed, paved the way toward concrete steps by supporting the common action plan for a regional market. The summit also highlighted the importance of the Growth Plan, Drexler said noting the mechanism should be a bridge between common regional market and a single European market. 

Ben Nupnau, Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation to North Macedonia, said the common market will bring the region closer to the EU stimulating growth and enhancing economic convergence of the region. 

“Economic convergence is a key element and before integrating, in larger regional markets it stimulates competitiveness, job creation while also helping reducing brain drain,” he said noting a lot remains to be done. 

Integration into the EU common market, Nupnau said, is the main driving force for growth of all countries that had joined the EU, but the countries need to be prepared to be able to apply complex regulations. “The Growth Plan is here to help countries reform and build their capacities – administrative and economic, all the while providing financing for all those steps,” he stated.

The EPI event is part of a series of events taking place from October 17 until October 24 in all Western Balkan capitals after the summit on the Western Balkans in Berlin.

Premiers of the six Western Balkan countries at the October 14 Berlin Process Summit signed a new action plan for single regional market as part of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

A new mobility agreement was also signed, that includes access to higher education.

Photo: MIA