The United States strongly supports the continuation of efforts in the Western Balkans to deepen and strengthen comprehensive regional integration, in line with EU rules and standards, a State Department spokeswoman said in a statement to VOA.

Asked by VOA’s Albanian Service about the United States’ stance on the Open Balkans initiative, embraced by Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia, but not by other countries in the region, the spokesman said in a statement that the US calls on leaders in the region “to strive to find opportunities to reduce trade barriers, increase economic competitiveness and build integrated, dynamic economies at the service of their citizens”.

The Declaration considers the creation of a Common Regional Market – one that guarantees the free movement of people, goods and services – to be “essential for attracting investment and economic growth”.

“The Western Balkans is a region with great untapped potential, which is reflected in the vision and efforts of its peoples to create a prosperous and successful region, fully integrated into the European Union,” she said in a statement to the Voice of America.

/Klara Ruci/