We must recall that the Berlin Process is an incentive of the European Union to back the integration of Western Balkans with the aim of enabling this region to deliver all the main criteria for its full accession. Officially launched on 28 August 2014, the process is supposed to last four years, while it is expected to be completed in 2018, thus aiming to offer a new dynamic of the process of European Integration as such.
“Albania and Serbia may be considered as the main beneficiaries of the Berlin Process for the moment”, the study says.
This document further states that Albania became the center of the two most important regional organizations, such as the Youth Regional Organization and the Balkan Fund for Western Balkans. As far as Serbia is concerned, the study in question states that due to its geographical position, it plays a very important role in the business aspect, engaging along with the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce to promote investments in the region. “But above all, both countries have marked great progress in advancing bilateral relations under the umbrella of the Berlin Process”, the study further states, thus stressing the importance of the intensification of bilateral relations between the two countries, which two decades ago were in open conflict due to the issue of Kosovo. But it looks as if the Berlin Process, initiated by the European Union has brought the two countries closer to each other.
Albania’s concrete achievements, incentive for youngsters and dialogue with Serbia
The positive example of the political dialogue between Albania and Serbia, but also the incentive for youngsters in the region, are considered as the two basic incentives which relate to the social pillars of the Berlin Process. Albania is considered as the Western Balkan country which has marked these two major achievements. “Albania became the center of the two most important organizations–RYCO and Western Balkans Fund”, the study says. Meanwhile, the study continues with the achievements marked by Serbia, where one of them relates to the fact that “thanks to its central geographical position, it is a large beneficiary of this agenda and plays a key role in the business aspect”. “Along with the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce, it is connecting the regional chambers of commerce with the aim of promoting investments, tourism, etc”, the experts say. They also stress the importance of the positive dialogue which has been going on for a while now between Albania and Serbia.
“The Berlin Process also aims at making Western Balkans a beneficiary of two macro-regional strategies of the European Union, such as the one for Danube and the other one for Adriatic-Ionian region, pointing out the importance of the connection that exists between trade and investments”, the study further states in relation to the joint project between the countries of the region, where Albania is included.
The Trieste Summit will present the project of a more integrated regional market
“There are more than 50 regional incentives today and most of them have worked out well, in line with the objectives for which they have been launched, regarding different domains and Western Balkans cooperation”. This is another element of the analysis being made to the progress of the Berlin Process. According to this analysis, another important project which will be implemented as part of the Process and which will be presented in the Trieste Summit is the one regarding a more integrated regional market. This project includes coordinated efforts to improve business climate and attract foreign investments in general in the Western Balkan region, including Albania. Meanwhile, the second Summit of the Berlin Process was held in Vienna on 27 August 2015, while the Third Summit was held in Paris on 4 July 2016. The first message of all the summits was that the region had a clear European perspective and that besides the individual efforts of each state, the strengthening of regional cooperation is the only way to achieve this goal. “The region is expected to intensify its economic integration, improving ties in the domain of transport, energy of digitalization, integrating in the main corridors of the European transport”, the conclusions of each summit state. Meanwhile, according to these conclusions, good governance and rule of law are key prerequisites for a successful implementation of the agenda for further integration of the market in Western Balkans.
