Tirana, 16 October 2023 (MIA) – Ahead of the beginning of the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit on Monday, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said he expects to have constructive discussions on boosting regional cooperation at the Summit.

Kovachevski was welcomed in Tirana by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. At the Summit they are expected to participate in two working sessions – “Integrating the Region into the Single Market and Improving Convergence with the EU” and “Supporting Green and Digital Transition in the Western Balkans: Challenges and Opportunities for Investment and Growth”.

“The expectations are that we will have constructive discussions firstly in terms of boosting regional cooperation, in terms of increasing investments for regional connectivity, and especially talks in terms of achieving energy independence and providing additional funds for energy independence of the region and green transition of the energy sector. Additionally, an agreement will be signed on the recognition of diplomas of pharmacists, midwives, nurses, which comes as an extension to the agreement we signed at the last summit – the recognition of diplomas of doctors and other activities regulated with the European directives,” said Prime Minister Kovachevski.

The Summit is expected to be attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, as well as numerous other leaders from participating countries such as Austria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and high representatives of CEFTA, OECD, Regional Cooperation Council, World Bank Group, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Investment Bank.

“At the Summit, I will also hold talks with Scholz. During the day, this morning I met with Commissioner Várhelyi, with whom I spoke about the enlargement process, firstly in terms of the screening process which is in its final stage and heading to the drafting of the final reports. However, we also spoke about connecting the Western Balkan countries, mainly I’m referring to digital connectivity, which is one of the conditions for the establishment of a common regional market which will be compatible with the common European market. I also met with the President of the European Bank [for Reconstruction and Development] Renaud-Basso, with whom I spoke specifically about projects financed by the EBRD concerning the connection of Corridor VIII with Albania, as well as the financing of energy projects in the country and the interconnector with Greece regarding North Macedonia’s gas connectivity,”

The Prime Minister also said he would hold a meeting with the Vice President of the World Bank Group on Tuesday, during which they will discuss North Macedonia’s long-term plan with the World Bank regarding project funding in the country in the coming four years.

Tirana hosts the second Summit of the Berlin Process in the region, after North Macedonia and Bulgaria organized an online summit in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Photo: Government of North Macedonia