Facilitation of import and export procedures, free movement of citizens with ID cards, common market for 12 million inhabitants of Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia, removal of controls at border crossings or cooperation in preventing and eliminating the consequences of disasters are some of the agreements signed in the framework of the "Open Balkans" initiative.

On the other hand, in trade exchanges between the three countries, Serbia is dominating as the largest economy, with more inhabitants but also with a solid industrial structure inherited from the former Yugoslav state and with more advanced factories in the processing of fruits and vegetables or food production, with an advantage in information technology, and so on.

North Macedonia had an export of Euro 223 million to Serbia and imports from Serbia of Euro 558 million in 2020, which means that Serbia sells three times more goods and products in Macedonia than vice versa, according to data from the country’s statistical office.

North Macedonia exports in Serbia iron and steel, iron products, pharmaceuticals, mineral fertilizers, plastics, fruits and vegetables, etc. From Serbia, North Macedonia imports electrical machinery and equipment, iron and steel, machinery, and numerous products of the food industry including wheat and flour.

On the other hand, trade exchange between North Macedonia and Albania remains modest, while unlike Kosovo which is among the main trade partners of North Macedonia, Albania is not even ranked among the first ten countries. This is due to the delays in the construction of the modern corridor as a highway in the eighth corridor, and the orientation of Albania to have trade with the old traditional partners such as Italy and Greece, as well as the new ones such as Kosovo, Turkey, Germany, France, China, Spain, and not creating the infrastructural conditions for both countries to advance mutual trade.

Last week, the leaders of Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia signed five agreements on Tuesday, facilitating free movement of trade, people, and services throughout the three Western Balkan countries.

The agreements come under the so-called Open Balkan initiative, previously referred to as the Mini-Schengen. It envisages cross border trade, residence, business, and movement for the citizens of each country, in each signatory country.

The aim is to create a borderless zone that facilitates open trade and investment between Western Balkan countries before progressing towards EU membership, which still remains distant.

Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have not signed up to the initiative, citing Serbia’s failure to recognize Kosovo’s sovereignty, as well as fears that the project might undermine their EU accession and effectively keep them outside the bloc.