Verona, 2 April 2023 (MIA) – The Open Balkan is based on goodwill and good relations of the three founding countries - North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia, and it is not a political, but an economic initiative that is based on the same principles as the EU for free movement of people and economic cooperation, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said on Sunday.

Addressing the joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama following their trilateral meeting in the town of Bardolino near the Italian city of Verona, where the Vinitaly wine fair is being held, Kovachevski said that the fact that the three countries are represented together at this wine fair event is a proof that Open Balkan is yielding results.

He noted that the wine fair represents an opportunity for wineries from the region to promote their products, but also to attract investors, adding that the wine sector is particularly important for the country, which is the second exporter of wine in the Balkans after Greece.

Kovachevski underlined that the benefits of the Open Balkan are also visible in the increase in trade between the three countries, but for its further increase, it is necessary to remove the borders between the countries.

“We do not need those borders because they prevent us from exporting to each other,” Kovachevski said, emphasizing that currently the only borders in Europe are those in the Balkans.

He underscored that joint cooperation within the framework of the Open Balkan gives results for both people and businesses from the three countries. “If we are together, we will be stronger,” Kovachevski added.

Serbian President Vučić said that the three leaders had fruitful discussions on the issues affecting the countries of the region, as well as on how to help ordinary people and enable the free flow of trade.

Vučić pointed out that they also talked about food safety, and with Prime Minister Kovachevski discussed the harmonization of electronic identity cards, which, as he emphasized, is of particular importance for citizens to secure work permits, as a basis for mutual economic cooperation.

“In the last three years, we have increased trade with North Macedonia by almost 50 percent,” Vučić said.

He added that the three countries must work to facilitate cross-border transit, stressing that transport trucks spent 70 percent of the time waiting at border crossings.

Vučić also called on the citizens of North Macedonia and Albania to visit Serbia, but also the Serbs to visit the two neighboring countries.

Albanian Prime Minister Rama said that the meeting on the sidelines of one of the largest wine events in Europe, Vinitaly wine fair in Verona, was an opportunity to discuss cooperation in the field of agriculture and connecting food producers from the three countries.

Rama announced that the next meeting of the three leaders will be held at the end of May, at which several topics will be discussed, primarily the problem of labor shortage, after which a fair will be organized in Albania as part of the Open Balkan initiative.

“It is important to work on the strategic strengthening of ties with the EU. But we will not seek to artificially speed up the negotiation process. There are some things we must accomplish when it comes to standards,” Rama said, announcing support for all countries in the region to join the European Union.

During the meeting they discussed the implementation of the activities within the framework of the Open Balkan regional initiative, as well as the joint participation in the 55th edition of Vinitaly, international exhibition of wines and spirits in Verona, reads the government’s press release.

The three leaders concluded that with the joint presentation at the Vinitaly fair, we are bringing and promoting the wine and tourism quality of the three countries closer to the world and potential investors.“The joint presentation of the three countries at the Vinitaly wine fair is seen as a huge opportunity for promotion, networking, attracting foreign investors and opening new markets,” reads the press release.

At the meeting, it was noted that starting this summer, the possibility of free access to the labor market for the citizens of the three countries becomes a reality, and the right to access the labor markets in the three countries will be acquired much faster and simpler, with the electronic issuance of Open Balkan identification number and unique identification number issued for a foreigner by the Ministry of the Interior.

“With the start of the implementation of these agreements, persons who will receive an Open Balkan identification number are allowed an uninterrupted stay of two years during which they have the right to find work,” reads the press release.

The facilitation and acceleration of the flow of goods and the improvement of trade between the three countries with the introduction of green lanes at border crossings were also underscored during the meeting.

“The signing of the memorandum of cooperation between North Macedonia and Serbia for the Tabanovce border crossing was welcomed and highlighted, which foresees the infrastructure expansion of the number of traffic lanes at the Tabanovce - Preševo crossing, the installation or improvement of traffic signals, as well as additional infrastructure equipment at this crossing, as well as the establishment of new procedures for border control for accelerated crossing of passengers and vehicles at the border crossing. Also, in connection with the Kafasan border crossing between North Macedonia and Albania, it was said that working groups have been formed that are starting to work on finding solutions for regulating one-stop-shop system,” reads the press release.

Possible future activities such as Open Balkan - a youth camp, a food fair, a film festival, and the possibility of opening the borders between the three countries were also discussed during the meeting.

Following the press conference, Kovachevski, Vučić and Rama will attend the presentation of the wine from three countries at the joint stand "Wine vision by Open Balkan" of North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania at Vinitaly.

Moreover, the three leaders, accompanied by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani will visit exhibition stands of the Italian wine producers.

The Republic of North Macedonia is participating in this year's international exhibition of wines and spirits in Verona with over 60 types of the best Macedonian wines, in attendance of 14 Macedonian wineries and three top sommeliers.

Vinitaly is aimed at trade visitors from the wine industry, such as retailers, importers, restaurateurs, journalists, and wine lovers who want to expand their knowledge and discover new business opportunities.

Vinitaly 2022 drew over 88,000 trade visitors from 139 countries to Verona, where they found a wide range of offerings from more than 4,500 exhibitors hailing from 41 nations. The focus was clearly on business with wines from all pertinent regions, as well as spirits.

Photo: MIA and Government