The Western Balkan countries signed, on Thursday 3 November in Berlin, three agreements to strengthen their cooperation.
These agreements cover the recognition of identity cards within the region to facilitate travel, the recognition of academic qualifications and the recognition of qualifications for certain professions.
Following the Berlin Process summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of advancing regional cooperation and resolving conflicts in the region.
For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recalled that the Berlin Process was aimed at deepening economic integration. “Our investment in the Western Balkans is not only important for good business investment, but it is an investment in peace, stability and prosperity for Europe as a whole”, she added.
The summit discussed the region’s progress on the regional common market and the implementation of the economic and investment plan.
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, recalled that the Berlin process had three priorities: energy, interconnections and digital.
A €1 billion aid plan
On energy and interconnections, as she had already done during her tour of the region, the Commission President announced an energy-related aid programme with €1 billion in European grants. “An unprecedented crisis requires unprecedented action”, Ms von der Leyen said.
Half of the funds will help the Western Balkans to cope with the immediate consequences of the energy crisis. The other half will help build their resilience in the short and medium term. According to the Commission, the short-term measures (1-2 years ahead) will support the diversification of energy supplies by stimulating gas and electricity interconnections, including LNG, and the construction of renewable energy projects and energy efficiency measures.
Medium-term support (next 2-3 years) will include investments contributing to energy transition and security: large-scale renewable energy generation projects, upgrade of energy transmission systems, district heating and schemes for energy efficiency for the old blocks-of-flats.
“In addition, we will strengthen security of supply by improving and facilitating access to each other’s pipelines and energy storage facilities”, Ms von der Leyen announced, recalling also that the EU had invited the Western Balkans to join it in its “European endeavour” to set up a common supply platform.
The Western Balkans also agreed on a declaration on energy security cooperation, in which leaders pledge to step up efforts to implement the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, aligned with the European Green Deal.
On the digital sector, Mr Rama called for progress. “We are also facing cyber security issues and we want to see progress for our young people. How to integrate them with the higher education system?”, he questioned. He also asked how to have more European presences in the region through their private sector and not only public funds.
Moving forward in the Belgrade/Pristina dialogue
Asked about the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo, Mr Scholz, Mr Rama and Ms von der Leyen said they hoped for an agreement. “An agreement must be found; we, France and the European Commission, are doing the impossible (...) I hope that very soon we will reach a process where both governments will move forward. We need patience and a lot of effort”, explained the German Chancellor.
The next Berlin Process summit will be held in Albania in 2023. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)