Scholz hosts Western Balkan leaders in Berlin

2024-10-14 08:44:00, Aktualitet CNA

On the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Summit, the approval of the new plan for the Common Regional Market and an agreement to facilitate studies in the countries of the region is expected.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is hosting today at the Federal Chancellery the heads of state and government of the six countries of the Western Balkans, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, within the framework of the Berlin Process. In addition to the six countries of the Western Balkans, partner countries, representatives of the European Union, also participate.

New agreements for regional cooperation and mobility

As it is known from government circles in Berlin, at the center of the summit lies the signing of an agreement that includes the exchange of students and the facilitation of access to the educational institutions of the countries of the Western Balkans. This agreement aims to simplify the mutual recognition of academic qualifications and university degrees, facilitating the mobility of students and their opportunities to study in universities of other countries in the region. Also, a new action plan for the Common Regional Market is expected to be approved, which aims to harmonize social and labor standards, as well as facilitate the circulation of goods, services and people within the region. German government sources have reported that another issue to be discussed is the unlocking of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which is expected to further strengthen trade cooperation in the region.

Preparatory meetings and preliminary results

Before the summit, several ministerial meetings were held, where a number of topics were addressed to deepen the cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU. For example, at the meeting of the Ministers of the Interior, cooperation against illegal migration and organized crime was discussed, at the meeting of the Ministers of the Economy, the energy transformation of the countries of the region and the elimination of trade barriers were discussed. The Foreign Ministers agreed on the improvement of standards for foreign investments and good neighborly relations. There have also been agreements on improving the situation of the Roma and harmonizing legislation on gender issues. The summit will also discuss the recommendations issued by the Civil Society Forum and the Youth Forum, which are taking place in parallel with the high-level meeting in Berlin.

The Berlin process, created in 2014 to support the accession process of the Western Balkan countries to the EU, is an initiative of the former German chancellor, Angela Merkel./ DW