Ministers of the Western Balkans have agreed on free travel without visas, but only with an ID card among the six countries and on mutual recognition of university degrees and professional qualifications, taking a step towards EU membership.

The German Foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said that these agreements pave the way for the creation of a common regional market of the Western Balkans.

“The countries of the Western Balkans have decided to conclude three key agreements. In these times, when it is easy to lose hope, today’s conference was a sign of hope and unity. What it concretely means for the Western Balkans: People of the six Western Balkans countries can travel within their countries without visas, universities of the six countries recognize each other’s degrees, and employers recognize each other’s qualifications,” reads the official Twitter account page of German Foreign Ministry.

The agreements will be officially signed at a Western Balkans Summit in Berlin in November.

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