Belgrade, 31 March 2023 (MIA) – The Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia signed on Friday in Belgrade three Open Balkan cooperation memoranda following the meeting between PM Dimitar Kovachevski and his Serbian counterpart Ana Brnabić.

Two countries’ ministers sign memoranda of understanding on improved flow of people and goods through the border, e-tolls, and mining and energy.

Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi and Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedović signed cooperation memo on mining and energy.

Under the document, the two countries undertake to carry out activities for the development of cooperation and business relations in the field of mining and energy in accordance with the national legislation of their countries and the principles of mutual respect, especially using the benefits of mutual relations arising from the memorandum signed within the framework of the Open Balkans initiative and this memorandum, Ministry of Economy said in a press release.

Cooperation between North Macedonia and Serbia in the field of mining includes: encouraging the investments of both countries in the field of geological research and exploitation of mineral raw materials and geothermal resources, initiating and encouraging mutual cooperation of institutions and business entities in the field of geology and mining with special emphasis on cleaner technologies and sustainable development, exchange of information and experiences about the legal solutions in the field of geology and mining as well as their application, coordinated participation in the activities that are carried out for regional cooperation and integration, exchange of experts and professional experiences in the field of geology and mining.

Cooperation memorandum between the Governments of North Macedonia and Serbia, on measures to improve flow of people and goods across the common state border, was signed by the Minister of the Interior, Oliver Spasovski, and the Serbian Minister of the Interior, Bratislav Gašić.

The memo relates to measures to improve the flow of people and goods and to jointly review possibilities in this regard, especially at Presevo-Tabanovce border crossing. The measures include expansion of access roads to the border crossing, putting and improving traffic signals, setting up new border procedures for accelerated crossing of passengers and inspection of people and vehicles at the border crossing.

Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski and Serbian Minister of Construction, Traffic and Infrastructure Goran Vesić signed memorandum of understanding on e-tolls, project for electronic toll collection - achieve an interoperable road toll system and accepted the harmonized text of the memorandum.

The memo on e-tolls aims to support the efforts of both governments to meet the objectives for free movement of people, goods, services, capital and open borders, as well as continuation of the development, modernization and integration of the road infrastructure in the Western Balkans.

Photo: MIA