Prime Minister Edi Rama has stated that the “Open Balkans” takes forward all the issues that were discussed in the Berlin Process. In this way he said that the “Open Balkans” is a unit for the implementation of the Berlin Process. He also quoted EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi as saying that the EC supports the Open Balkans.

“The agreements signed today are a tangible proof of a very simple fact that the Open Balkans is an initiative that pushes forward what has been discussed, widely discussed in the Berlin Process, what has been discussed at the summits of this process and has never been realized. The Open Balkans is an implementation unit of the Berlin Process and a realization unit of the regional common market. That is why we have joined this initiative. That is why we have announced a comprehensive initiative since day one. That is why we do not hesitate to join the other three parties in the region. Today, I also believe, it was clear, said directly by the European Commissioner for Enlargement that the EC fully supports the Open Balkans and invites the other 3 countries to join. If you noticed, the Commissioner regretfully underlined the failure of the common market as a process that was built based on consensus. We want to walk as fast as possible and we are aware that this walk as fast as possible can only be realized if we take our own destiny here in our region. The initiative is taking shape in impact on the lives and work of citizens and therefore support for the initiative either from the US administration or from the commission and a number of EU countries is coming and will not continue to grow consequently, the initiative is very clear. To make our region a space where the four freedoms of the EU, the freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services, function for the citizens, “said Rama.

/Klara Ruci/