Prime Minister Edi Rama has criticized once again this Thursday the European Union for the delay to open the membership negotiations, but he pointed out that there are is “no shaking” on the path towards the bloc.

In a statement to the media regarding the "Open Balkan" initiative, which was attended by the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic and Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister, Nikola Dimotrov, Rama urged the EU to create opportunities for farmers and businessmen and students from the Western Balkan countries.

Meanwhile, Rama said that this initiative served the peoples of the Balkans to expand the economy and markets and that these changes would be felt concretely starting in January next year as there would be less bureaucracy across the borders of the countries.

“Everyone in their own way suffers the heavy burden of bureaucracy. I am very glad that we are focused on where the essence of this initiative is. The essence is how to expand our markets and economies which remain small markets but if integrated integrate back into important markets, where we see that foreign direct investment is being absorbed.

This has a limit related to the market use space to benefit from more foreign direct investment. I am very glad that we were given the opportunity to face entrepreneurs from Serbia, Albania, Macedonia and their real problems.

All unanimously they demanded that what we sign be turned into reality at the border. We have exporters of agricultural products from one country to another. Products that cannot stay in effect for days, adding costs and negativity to the products themselves because you cannot arrive on Friday night and wait until Monday to make yogurt. Or to take the products from Konispol to Serbia by passing them to the customs, or 3 weeks to wait for the confirmation from the agency of a country. We also met with the Atlantic Council, which came specially from Washington in support of this initiative.

We agreed on a common position towards the EU, understanding very well the situation with the absurd blockade of the integration process, but emphasizing that we have no hesitation on our path towards the EU. We are convinced that the EU, even though it is immersed in its own problems, can influence by including and integrating in the common European market the farmers of our countries.

Considering the Balkans as part of itself. We have noticed that the tourist season is closed and the flow of Serbian tourists in Albania has increased by 63%. These are concrete figures. In economics these figures will only increase. In December in Tirana we will give concrete results. From January will begin a very significant change in the border for farmers and distributors.

The Open Balkans is without question an initiative to help and serve the people and these peoples who, despite the divisions, deserve to live better and have more room to move in favor of their well-being”, stated the Premier.