The ‘Open Balkan’ initiative is bearing fruit between Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia. In a joint meeting of the working teams in Tirana, it has been agreed that Albania will supply coal to Serbia and North Macedonia so that they can produce electricity within the region in the conditions of the energy crisis, while they will remove the restrictions to supply Albania with wheat, corn and oil provided that these products are not resold in another market.

” Albania and Serbia agreed on the possibility of using coal reserves in order to supply raw materials to Serbia’s thermal plants. North Macedonia expresses interest in investing directly in the Vlora LNG terminal. Each side commits to eliminate any supply barriers for goods related to food security, as North Macedonia has banned the export of wheat and it has been agreed to lift that restriction in the near future. A mechanism will be set up where the limited sale and purchase of goods will be allowed with the condition of prohibiting the resale of the same goods in another market. At the next summit on September 1, all parties will be ready to sign the protocol of agreements for the interconnection of schemes for electronic identification and free access to the labor market”, said Ahmetaj.

While the Minister of Agriculture Frida Krifca said that the export ceilings to Albania for the supply of wheat, corn and oil will be eliminated.

“During this meeting, we decided to commit to eliminate any quota imposed on the supply of goods related to food safety, the Macedonian side commits to remove the blockade imposed on food export products last week, and the Serbian side to eliminate export ceilings to Albania for wheat and corn products decided by the decision of the Council of Ministers, this memorandum will be signed in Serbia at the beginning of September. Also, economic operators are free to sign supply contracts with any commodity, including products related to food safety, on the condition that products related to food safety such as wheat, corn, sugar or vegetable oil are prohibited from resale,” said Krifca.

These decisions of the working teams will be materialized in the agreement at the meeting of governments on September 1, which will take place in Belgrade, where the next Open Balkans summit will be held.

/Klara Ruci/