The new president of Montenegro, Jakov Milatovic, has considered the “Open Balkan” initiative as a message to the EU as an incentive to speed things up within the Berlin process.

In an interview with the Austrian newspaper “Der Standard”, Milatovic said that Montenegro remains focused on the EU agenda, but the Berlin process is moving at a slow pace because all 6 countries of the Western Balkans must agree and often problems arise between Kosovo and Serbia.

“It is a process. The “Open Balkan” was the result of a very slow progress in the Berlin Process, which started ten years ago. The Berlin process is the key element for regional integration. The problem with the Berlin process, however, is that all six countries always have to agree. And sometimes there is a problem, especially between Kosovo and Serbia.

Therefore, the “Open Balkans” is also a message for the EU. If there is something that serves as an incentive to speed things up within the Berlin process, that is a good thing. Montenegro is at the forefront of EU integration and we remain focused on the EU agenda by relaxing and normalizing relations with our neighbors. For Montenegro this is especially important with Serbia – as between Austria and Germany. We share the same language, we share the same culture and we used to be one country,” Milatovic said.

Milatovic said that 60% of Montenegrins want Montenegro to join the initiative, as it is perceived as a “softening of relations with Serbia”.

“This part of Europe was the only one without borders 50 years ago. Now it is the only one with borders. All our economies are interconnected and the benefit for our people would be to minimize the costs at the borders”,  the Montenegrin president added.

The “Open Balkans” initiative serves to create an economic and political zone, offer greater trade opportunities, student exchanges and encourage the integration of the Balkan countries into the EU.

Currently, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia have joined the initiative, while Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro have so far refused to join.

/k.s/