Prime Minister Edi Rama said Tuesday that in 2022, a new era will begin for the three countries in the region that are part of the "Open Balkans" initiative: Albania, Serbia and North Macedonia.

With the removal of the borders between the three countries, there will be no more stress and headaches at the customs points, Rama added while noting that the approval of work permits will open the regional market even more.

"In accordance with this statement, we have invited rectors and deans of the agricultural university of our countries to the summit in Tirana to establish ties and cooperation. We need to make our universities centers of research on regional cooperation and other vital processes.

I will ask all partners to support such a network. I want to emphasize what in my eyes is the most important part of this initiative. The Open Balkans serves to inject dynamism into the regional market to turn them into single stopping points.

The goal remains the same implementation of the four freedoms of movement. I want to close this introduction by saying that today the signing of agreements prepared with great diligence and readiness serves to send a concrete message to manufacturers and importers, who are already working in this common space. With these agreements, 2022 will be a new era.

To cross the border different than based on these deals and what we will do at the beginning of the new year, they will no longer experience those headaches of so long and the stress of so long waiting at the border.

The number of people, small and large enterprises already operating between Albania, Macedonia and Serbia will increase further. I thank Aleksandar and Zoran and the experts who are involved", stated the Premier.