The foreign ministers of the EU and the Western Balkans were this Friday in Tirana to prepare the big meeting of leaders that will be held here on October 16. It is the first time that the Berlin Process will hold a summit in the region, and not within the borders of the union.

The Berlin Process is an initiative aimed at increasing regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and providing assistance for the integration of the countries of this region into the European Union. It was presented on August 28, 2014 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

At a time when the European Union was facing numerous challenges and its enlargement was on hold, the Berlin Process was launched to preserve the stability of the Western Balkans, support ongoing reforms and advance cooperation between the countries of the region.

In 9 years the focus has been on the economy, better trade exchange within the countries of the region and between the EU region, as well as the education of the Balkan youth in the EU. The main achievements of the Berlin Process are: the creation of the Regional Office of Youth Cooperation, the Investment Forum of the Western Balkan Chambers, the creation of green corridors within the region and green corridors between BP and EU countries.

Roaming agreement in the region, according to which citizens from the 6 countries from July 1, 2021 do not have to buy roaming packages when traveling in the region. Another agreement, which came into force on the first day of this month, significantly reduced mobile charges for travelers between the Western Balkans and the EU.

In the field of commercial exchange, goods and people, the three mobility agreements are active, which constitute important achievements of regional cooperation within the Berlin process.

Main achievements of the Berlin Process:

Creation of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO),
Investment Forum of Western Balkan Chambers (WBCIF)
Green corridors within the region and between WB and EU countries,
Roaming agreement in the region (started on July 1, 2021)
Reduction of roaming charges between BP and the EU (started on 1 October 2023)
The three mobility agreements

/k.s/