Belgrade, 18 December 2021 (MIA) – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Albania Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama sent open letter calling countries of the Western Balkans to join Open Balkan initiative, which was published by Podgorica-based daily Dan. In the letter Vučić, Zaev and Rama, wrote that Europe is not a continent, but a vision, that for a long time, the citizens of the Western Balkans, as an integral part of the continent and of this vision, were left out, MIA’s Belgrade correspondent reported on Saturday. “The desire of our people to be accepted by the EU members was again and again hindered by the internal policies of the member states, the non-fulfillment of the given promises and the fear of the future. This has resulted in disappointment, instability, emigration and a lack of large investments,” the open letter said. “We, as the leaders of our countries, can decide to complain about it, or we can decide to do something about it. We chose the latter. In November 2019, we signed a preliminary agreement to advance the so-called Berlin Process, by undertaking deeper regional cooperation,” it read. In the letter they wrote that their vision is to overcome social, economic and trade barriers, slowing down economic growth of the region through implementation of four fundamental freedoms of the EU. “Since then, we have met regularly and signed agreements that enable our citizens to work freely in the neighboring countries, we have reduced border controls that will allow the movement of goods, almost without delay, we have established mechanisms for free travel of our citizens between our countries - such as EU citizens travel between their countries. Our initiative, called the Open Balkan, has proved effective and useful even in overcoming the difficult times of the pandemic," the letter said. Although the regional initiative currently includes only Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, they noted in the letter that the initiative was and is open to all other countries of the Western Balkans. “We take this opportunity to once again invite all our neighbors to join and offer their citizens the benefits we offer to our citizens. Through the free movement of people, goods, capital and services, our cooperation can foster trade and growth and make life easier for every individual in our neighborhood,” the open letter said. It also stressed that, although "often referred to as being Europe’s ‘powder keg' we as responsible leaders could not allow the region to return to the nightmares of the past until the EU is able to do more on enlargement at this stage." "We have our differences, we disagree on some political issues, but we all agree that the economy and the four fundamental freedoms of the EU are a way to offer our region hope and lasting peace," the letter said, adding that "the Open Balkan is not a consolation prize instead of EU membership, but, on the contrary, a big step towards it." "As the Coal and Steel Community created to the European Union after World War II, so will the Open Balkan initiative be remembered as a turning point that brought our people closer to the EU and membership in the world's largest trading bloc," the letter said. Three leaders pointed out that several European leaders and the US administration have already expressed their support, and they thank them for that. It adds that entrepreneurs, farmers and students from all over the Western Balkans also expressed their support, adding that they are our inspiration. “Now the whole EU must unite and fully support the Open Balkan and encourage our other neighbors to be included in our initiative from a need to an action. It is high time that all people in the region unite for a better common future. For a future which provides stability, peace, and better living conditions for all. A future which overcomes disagreements of the past and gives our children hope in the place where they deserve to live,” the three leaders said in the open letter.