Jovanovic: Signing the protocols in Skopje completes the administrative part for establishing a unified labor market

In Skopje, within the Open Balkan initiative, two protocols were signed to enable the establishment of a free labor market for the countries of the Open Balkan – Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania. Mihailo Jovanovic, the Minister of Information and Telecommunications of Serbia, stated to RTS that the signing of these protocols completed the administrative part related to the formation of a unified labor market.

Two protocols were signed – Protocol on the conditions for free access to the labor market and Protocol on linking electronic identification schemes using the ID number.

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic stated in Skopje yesterday that a fully free labor market among the Open Balkan countries should come into effect from March 1, contributing to a better business environment and overcoming workforce-related issues.

"This means that workers from Albania or North Macedonia will practically be able to come to Serbia to work without any administrative or other obstacles, either for these citizens or for their employers, and they will be able to work freely in Serbia without the need for a residence permit or work permits. Of course, the same applies to Serbian citizens if they go to Albania or North Macedonia," Jovanovic said.

Citizens of these three countries can apply for jobs through the electronic administration portal, through all national portals.

"Anyone with an account on the electronic administration portal will be able to simultaneously become a citizen of the Open Balkan and apply for free access to the labor market. They will receive a unique confirmation with a QR code, with which they can go to their employer," Jovanovic explained.

He reminds that crossing borders has long been possible only with an ID card, and all of this together will help further the development of our economy, faster workforce fluctuation, which is essential in the context of Expo 2027.

Jovanovic notes that we will have insight into all job vacancies in the three countries, and national employment services are an integral part of this system.

The second protocol means that with an account on the e-administration of one country, electronic services on the portals of other countries can be used.

Speaking about Expo 2027 and the plan "Serbia 2027 – Leap into the Future," Jovanovic said that it is a plan open to all who want to participate, open to the youth, but also to those in the diaspora who want to return and help implement the plan.

"One of these points is further modernization and digitization, which only shows that we have good foundations, that it was a good decision in 2017 when we started digitization, and many did not understand what that meant," Jovanovic said.

He points out that Serbia has excellent foundations – developed infrastructure, the State Data Center in Kragujevac, executed according to the highest technical and security standards, and infrastructure for the development of artificial intelligence.

"In 2021, we bought the first supercomputer, and the capacities of that supercomputer for the development of artificial intelligence were given to scientific-technological parks, startups, institutes, and we already have a good basis for Serbia 2027," Jovanovic said.

The minister emphasizes that significant expansions of the State Data Center are planned.