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Analysis of the "Rockefeller Brothers" Foundation: "The Open Balkans" undermined the "Berlin Initiative" and deepened divisions in the Region

Politiko 2022-08-29 11:52:28

Analysis of the "Rockefeller Brothers" Foundation: "The Open

An analysis by the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation of the Berlin initiative in the Western Balkans showed that the "Open Balkans" initiative of Albania, Serbia and Macedonia undermined the goal of the Common Regional Market that was presented by the Berlin initiative.

The authors of the study evidenced that the reason for the "Open Balkans" initiative is to allow some countries of the Region to progress faster in economic cooperation, bypassing the bilateral disputes that block the initiative at the Regional level.

However, according to them, "Open Balkans" overlooks regional cooperation, excluding Kosovo and consequently overlooking the pitfalls of Kosovo-Serbia relations. "The inclusion of half of BB6 in the Open Balkans initiative may have negative implications in the symbolic aspect and in real cooperation", says the analysis that the study developed on the implementation of the "Berlin Initiative 200-2021". In addition, "Open Balkans" risks replacing the purpose and concept of the creation of the Common Regional Market, which is the basis of the Berlin initiative.

"Although the Open Balkans initiative did not necessarily arise out of frustration over enlargement issues, the leaders involved seem to welcome the idea that they do not have to address European standards within it ," the study says.

The other three BB6 countries, Bosnia, Kosovo and Montenegro, remain uneasy about the idea of joining the initiative. Kosovo has openly opposed the Open Balkans initiative and its goals. Similarly, Bosnia and Herzegovina's leadership has expressed concern that the regional economic zone threatens its independence. Together with Montenegro, both countries officially claimed that they see no reason to prefer the "Open Balkans" initiative over the common market led by the Berlin initiative.

The EU still lacks a final position on the Open Balkans initiative. European officials who have recently visited the Balkans have welcomed the increase in regional cooperation.

To help liberalize trade, the "Open Balkan" aims to remove border crossings and barriers to transit, but being half-hearted it has reversed all the achievements of the Berlin initiative, which aimed to increase cooperation in the Region as a whole, further analyzes the study.

"Open Balkans", the initiative launched at the end of July 2021 by Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania includes only half of the countries of the Western Balkans, while the Berlin initiative was accepted by all countries to achieve the standards that created the market of common.

The authors claim that "Open Balkans" could further increase the divisions in the Region, especially between Serbia and Kosovo, or Montenegro and Serbia, and could increase the divisions with those who remain outside the initiative. Monitor