Will Open Balkan open a new chapter, and what role could Trump play?

The third Open Balkan Wine Vision Fair, opened yesterday in Belgrade, serves as a vivid reminder of the almost-forgotten regional initiative led by Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania. Political summits among the three countries' officials have been absent for two years, but sources from Tirana, Skopje, and Belgrade interviewed by Kosovo Online do not rule out the possibility of Open Balkan being revived following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Written by: Dušica Radeka Djordjevic

During his first presidential term, Trump’s administration kept an eye on this project, which was even mentioned in point five of the Washington Agreement under its then-current name, "Mini-Schengen," obligating Kosovo to join.

At the opening of the Wine Vision Fair, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that the initiative creates opportunities connecting the region with the world. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic emphasized that Open Balkan has become a symbol of strong regional cooperation and Western Balkan integration, while Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who addressed the event via video message, described the Wine Vision Fair as a "beautiful present created by the Open Balkan initiative."

Rama was, however, the one who in 2023 "pulled the handbrake," stating that Open Balkan had fulfilled its mission and that the main focus should shift to the Berlin Process.

Ilir Pata, editor-in-chief of the Tema media platform from Tirana, expects that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could reignite discussions about reviving the Open Balkan initiative to establish free trade in the region.

"Reactivating Open Balkan would align with the U.S.'s trade war against the EU and China. We could also see increased American investments in our region, boosting economic growth. I believe there will be developments in this direction because almost every government in the Balkans, except Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, has good relations with Trump’s associates, including Belgrade, Republic of Srpska, North Macedonia, and Tirana," Pata told Kosovo Online.

In his view, Donald Trump’s return to the White House would completely alter the geopolitical scenario, especially in the Balkans but also globally.
"This was evident from Trump’s phone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. I believe the Balkans will enter a 'new game' alongside other sensitive areas of the world, such as the Middle East, Ukraine, or U.S.-Russia relations. It’s no coincidence that Vucic is visiting Moscow after many years. I think the agreements between Kosovo and Serbia, particularly on Gazivode and economic cooperation, will be reopened," Pata noted.

If the Open Balkan initiative gains the support of a new U.S. administration led by Donald Trump, former North Macedonian Finance Minister and World Bank consultant Kiril Minoski believes it would benefit all countries in the region, as the European Union's general concept emphasizes cooperation within specific regions.

"North Macedonia can only benefit from this initiative. Any form of integration offers greater opportunities for both citizens and the economy," Minoski stated.

Senior researcher at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, Vuk Vuksanovic, told Kosovo Online that there is a possibility that Trump’s administration would focus on economic initiatives in the Balkans, potentially reviving the Open Balkan initiative and even the Washington Agreement.

However, he noted that this would depend on several factors, including whether "a figure like Richard Grenell assumes a key role in Balkan policy in the new administration" and the extent to which Trump’s administration is willing to engage with Balkan issues in detail.
"I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of the Trump administration pursuing initiatives in the Balkans, partly for its own promotion. Trump and Grenell positioned themselves during Trump’s first term as leaders keen on pragmatic deals, often presenting themselves as more effective dealmakers than Europe, which they criticized for inefficiency and excessive bureaucracy. In this context, Trump’s focus on business and the economy could resurface, not just with Open Balkan but also with the revival of the Washington Agreement, potentially using provisions like the flow of goods and services to address economic blockades imposed by Kurti’s government on Serbian institutions and municipalities in northern Kosovo," Vuksanovic explained.

Within the Open Balkan framework, agreements have been signed allowing citizens of the three countries to work under the same conditions as locals, connecting electronic identification schemes, cooperation in veterinary medicine, food safety, phytosanitary standards, mutual recognition of academic qualifications, and collaboration in tourism and culture.

The head of the Regional Cooperation Center at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Aleksandar Radovanovic, told Kosovo Online that although the Open Balkan initiative is currently in the background, it hasn’t been "retired," as everything agreed upon is still being implemented and benefiting businesses.

"None of it will be interrupted. Open Balkan is currently not in the spotlight, but it can always be reactivated if there’s a need, political will, and interest," Radovanovic concluded.

He highlights that the agreements reached within the Open Balkan initiative have significantly reduced business costs and improved efficiency for entrepreneurs, as import-export operations have been streamlined. A particularly important achievement, he notes, is the agreement on work permits.

"Today, with just one click, you can get employed in North Macedonia or Albania, and citizens are already taking advantage of this benefit. Several thousand people have applied for work permits across all three countries. I would also emphasize the agreement in the agricultural trade sector. We've made significant strides in regional integration, as something that CEFTA plans to pilot in 2025 has already been implemented for two or three years through Open Balkan between North Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania. We mutually recognize reports from accredited laboratories. This demonstrates that when there is political will, our process of joining the European Union can be significantly accelerated," says Radovanovic.

He explains that everything on the Open Balkan agenda has been incorporated into the Berlin Process and the Growth Plan proposed by the European Union to accelerate regional integration. While efforts are now directed toward implementing the action plan related to the Growth Plan, this does not mean that the Open Balkan initiative has been discontinued.

The Wine Vision of the Open Balkan fair is one example of this, Radovanovic notes, highlighting that this year’s event has broken all previous records, with more than 650 exhibitors from 38 countries and over 400 international buyers from around 45 countries.

"Among them are countries from the Far East, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and even many African nations. The idea behind the fair was to provide countries in our region with the opportunity to showcase their wines to a global audience, positioning us as significant producers of high-quality wines distributed worldwide. This is truly a great idea that has shown tangible benefits for the economy," Radovanovic emphasizes.

Exhibitors at the fair testify that the Open Balkan initiative has been beneficial for them. They say it has simplified their business operations and enhanced cooperation, which is why they hope the initiative will expand and endure.