Trosanovski: As CEFTA chair, Kosovo will focus on the Common Regional Market

The President of the Institute for Democracy in Skopje, Marko Trosanovski, assumes that Kosovo's priorities as CEFTA chair in 2025 will center on the Common Regional Market, which aims to enable the free flow of goods and services and is expected to be effectively implemented starting this year.

"I believe that Kosovo will focus on three of the six pillars of the Common Regional Market: the free movement of goods and services, and horizontal trade measures that should be promoted. Additionally, there are nine agreements that CEFTA member states have negotiated and signed, which need to be implemented in line with the Growth Plan. I think Kosovo also has a political motive to demonstrate, for the first time, its capacity to manage and successfully oversee such regional initiatives independently as a state. Naturally, the economic aspect is crucial here, with the creation of an action plan for the Common Regional Market that will bring greater economic benefits to Kosovo and the other countries," Trosanovski told Kosovo Online.

He added that the establishment of multiple individual coordination bodies, managed by each member state, is also expected.

"The responsibility for Kosovo is significant in that it is presiding for the first time as an independent state, not under the auspices of the United Nations as before. The initial stance is that there is goodwill on both sides, though tempered by the traditional Balkan skepticism that this agreement will be implemented in good faith and yield results," Trosanovski noted.

However, he recalled that in case of disputes between CEFTA members, Protocol 7 provides a mechanism for the swift resolution of conflicts.

Speaking about the import ban on Serbian goods that Kosovo maintained for 16 months and partially lifted last fall, Trosanovski pointed out that the Kosovo side agreed to reopen the Merdare crossing for the flow of goods with additional security guarantees, including metal detectors, in response to Kosovo's accusations that Serbia was allegedly transporting weapons into Kosovo. He also mentioned that Albin Kurti promised that other crossings would be opened in phases as they are equipped with this scanning technology.

Addressing expectations for North Macedonia within CEFTA this year, Trosanovski stated that the country should develop stronger internal positions regarding the implementation of the Common Regional Market and the defense of its national interests within the regional context. This includes, as he noted, more active participation with timely planning, digitalization, and improvements to green lanes for faster border crossing, which he emphasized as critically important for North Macedonia.