The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has said that in order to integrate the region economically, security threats must be stopped.
During the round table in Skopje, within the framework of the summit for the Western Balkans Growth Plan, Kurti underlined that trust and good neighborly relations do not happen if the freedom for goods is used for the transportation of ammunition.
He said in front of regional leaders but also political representatives from the EU and the USA that membership in the European Union should be based on merit.
On the other hand, the prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said that the Western Balkans Growth Plan is useful, but more frequent EU initiatives are needed to bring regional leaders together because according to him, the same can make things worse.
The host of the summit, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, said that this summit is a relief for the countries of the region that will open the doors to world markets for the freedom of goods and citizens.
The president of Serbia, Aleksandër Vucic, also expressed his openness to the creation of a common regional market.
From the European Union, General Director for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission, Gert Jan Koopman, emphasized that the idea of EU growth accelerates the accession of Western Balkan countries to the bloc and that the goal is to double the economy.
He was enthusiastic about such a thing, however, he said that the countries of the region should not block their neighbors, since they will not have the opportunity to enter the EU market.
Meanwhile, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O’Brien, also requested that the countries of the Western Balkans will not be able to block their neighbors in the initiative for economic development, and according to him, anyone who tries to do so , will face consequences.
The initiative was also considered useful by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajic.
