News: Berlin Process in Tirana: the road to the European Single Market, while Serbia aims at China

The Berlin Process Summit was held in Tirana, for the first time in a country in the Western Balkans region. On the discussion table two main themes: the new economic plan for the Western Balkans and the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia.

The new business plan provides for EUR 2 billion in loans and EUR 4 billion in loans conditional on the implementation of internal reforms. The plan aims to bring the Western Balkan economies "still too far from the Union" closer to the Single Market.

With regard to the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, European leaders said they were waiting for the investigations carried out by the Kosovo authorities to come to an end, inviting the parties to implement the Ohrid Agreements of March 2023. Meanwhile, the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, were absent due to his presence in Beijing for the summit of the Belt and Road initiative. On that occasion, the Serbian President and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, signed several bilateral agreements on industrial, cultural and scientific cooperation, as well as an investment package for the realization of infrastructure projects in Sebia. Among the most important, a free trade agreement that should enter into force next year.

During the Summit, an agreement was also reached on the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses, veterinarians, pharmacists and midwives within the region, which is in addition to the three mobility agreements signed during last year’s summit.

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