Zabrcanec: The "Open Balkan" initiative enjoys enormous support from the population of North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia

The National Coordinator for the Open Balkan and regional initiatives, Marjan Zabrcanec, believes that the "Open Balkan" is an initiative that continues to produce results, and that is why it can neither be finished nor dead.

For the portal "360 stepeni", Zabrcanec says that this initiative enjoys enormous support from the population of North Macedonia, Albania, and Serbia.

"The results are visible and recognized by both companies and citizens. At the border crossings, there are green lanes for the fast flow of trucks from the three countries, a joint system of electronic toll collection without stopping is also in operation; several cooperations in the field of tourism and culture have been implemented, and the cancellation of work permits between member states will follow. Open Balkan has active projects and announces new economic measures for citizens. Open Balkan has an active invitation to other countries from the region to join, and Montenegro is already actively and publicly expressing interest and support. An initiative with such results and projects can neither be finished nor dead," Zabrcanec says.

Zabrcanec refers to the joint press conference in Skopje between the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, and his Albanian colleague, Edi Rama, where, he believes, it was confirmed that the "Open Balkan" is not the finished story.

"In addition, Prime Minister Rama stated that the Open Balkan had brought only good things to the region, and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti had been wrong not to participate in that initiative," Zabrcanec says.

The National Coordinator believes that support for the "Open Balkan" goes hand in hand with support for the Berlin process and European integration of the region in general, because, as he points out, in addition to the basic economic goal, this initiative also accelerates the membership of each of the six countries of the Western Balkans in the European Union.

"The Open Balkan should be supported by all political actors because it means support for European integration of the country, for regional cooperation, for economic mobility and freedom, for greater trade, and against the rapid flow of citizens, products, and services. To be for the Open Balkan is to stand on the side of the people, 80 percent of citizens support this initiative," Zabrcanec assesses.