Muca: The protocol on the common labor market is a positive step, criticism is politically based

The protocol on free access to the labor market, signed by Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia within the framework of the Open Balkan Initiative, which is expected to come into effect on March 1, represents a positive step as it provides employment opportunities, and that criticisms against it are politically motivated, analyst Flogert Muca from Tirana says.

Muca says for Kosovo Online that the Open Balkan Initiative emerged when the Berlin Process stalled, and OB is based on EU principles of the free movement of people, goods, services, and capital.

"There is nothing controversial in this signed agreement on the free movement of workers in our three countries. This serves our countries, but especially our citizens. For example, Albania faces a labor shortage in tourism. We experienced a tourism boom last year, with 10 million foreign visitors coming to Albania, but a small number of employees is a major concern for our country, especially during the tourist peak season from June to September. This agreement will, in my opinion, be a very good opportunity for all young men and women, chefs, waiters, or other professions, who want to work and can come from Serbia, or Macedonia, to work in the south, in the north of Albania, everywhere in our country," our interlocutor believes.

He assesses the agreement as positive because it provides employment opportunities and adds that the criticisms are politically motivated and "insignificant compared to the welfare of citizens."

"In this agreement, nothing differs from today's model in Europe. As long as we in the Balkans see our future in Europe, we have no reason to fear when implementing European principles in our countries. Only economic development will help us move towards Europe. If we do not cooperate politically, the losers will be the citizens, and the only winner will be the propaganda that leads us nowhere," Muca concludes.