The 'Open Balkans' project will compete negatively with the Berlin Process and lead regional integration in a fragmented direction, says Strategic Group 6 of the Western Balkans (WB6).

According to this Sarajevo-based organization for democracy and human rights, the 'Open Balkans' and the Berlin Process deal with the same issues - the free movement of people, services, goods and capital.

The Berlin Process has a clear set of standards set by the acquis communautaire (EU legislation), the group says.

The "Berlin Process", a diplomatic initiative of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was launched in 2014, with the aim of supporting a peaceful, stable and democratic future of the Western Balkans, as well as improving regional cooperation and integration. European of the region.

The "Open Balkans" initiative is a continuation of the Balkan "Mini-Schengen", presented in Novi Sad, Serbia on October 10, 2019, by the leaders of Serbia, Northern Macedonia and Albania.

"The 'Open Balkans' is not tied to any EU standard and regional leaders can lead it in ways that cannot be controlled from the perspective of EU enlargement policy," the organization said in a statement. .

It is further stated that the initiators of the 'Open Balkans' avoid explaining how the project will be in line with the Berlin Process and the enlargement policy, as well as with the further common regional market and how feasible it would be to create two frameworks aimed at regulate the same.

The statement cited the dilemmas of Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro - which are not part of the Open Balkans - over the overarching nature of the initiative.

"There are concerns that the 'Open Balkans' project is creating a gap between transatlantic partners.

"Many European capitals are not convinced by this project, because it has long been failing to ensure the implementation of the principles of inclusion and harmonization with EU legislation", adds Strategic Group 6 of the Western Balkans.

Kosovo became the last country in the Balkans to be alerted to explosive devices in institutions, following a string of threats in at least four other countries in the region in recent months.

The alarm about the placement of a bomb in the bus station, then in the rectory of the University of Prishtina and in the International Airport of Prishtina "Adem Jashari", turned out to be false.

The organization adds that Serbia, as one of the initiators of the 'Open Balkans', is facing reports of a slowdown in EU membership negotiations because it remains insistent on avoiding full harmonization with EU sanctions against Russia due to occupation of Ukraine.

"In this sense, the 'Open Balkans' has the potential to create divisions and undermine the nature of regional co-operation on an equal footing," the statement said.

The Berlin Process was created in 2014 between the rise of Euroscepticism and the then EU decision that there will be no admission of new members in the next five years.

Meanwhile, in the framework of the 'Open Balkans', at the last summit, which was held in Ohrid in early June, agreements on mutual recognition of diplomas and scientific titles and three memoranda of cooperation in the field of tourism, culture and combating tax evasion.

For the first time in this initiative participated the highest representatives of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the capacity of observers.

To date, the three member states have reached a number of agreements aimed at boosting regional co-operation: crossing the borders of their citizens with identity cards, an agreement on co-operation in facilitating the import, export and movement of goods in the Western Balkans, and a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the labor market.

It has been announced that these countries will lift customs controls from January 1, 2023. / rel /