Skopje, 16 January 2023 (MIA) – The civil aviation agencies of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Türkiye signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday in Belgrade.

The memorandum envisages the strengthening of cooperation in the area of civil aviation, joint representation in international organizations, mutual recognition of licenses and joint organization of training for security in international air traffic.

By signing the memorandum, the competent institutions express their support for the initiative to establish a training center based in Belgrade and agree to act jointly in the European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, to automatically recognize the licenses of pilots, aircraft maintenance and air traffic controllers.

According to the Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the signing of the memorandum was attended by the Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, Goran Vesić, and the President of the European Civil Aviation Conference and Director of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Alessio Quaranta.

Vesić said this is the first memorandum of its kind signed in Europe and it best reflects what the Open Balkan idea looks like in practice.

“This memorandum demonstrates what the Open Balkan idea looks like. Let’s make the Balkans a joint house in which everyone will be better off,” said Vesić, adding that the Open Balkan initiative, as well as the call for regional cooperation, remain open for the other countries of the region.

The Serbian Minister pointed out that any form of cooperation, especially economic cooperation, is essential to solving all other political issues.

“We are divided by borders, but we share a similar mentality, a common history and our future lies in closer cooperation in every area,” said Vesić. ad/sk/