The Open Balkans initiative has already yielded its benefits and tangible results in terms of easing trade exchanges and mutual recognition of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO).
Prime Minister Edi Rama, who departed for Ohrid on Tuesday afternoon to attend the latest Western Balkans summit, stopped off at the Qafe Thane border crossing point to see firsthand the facilities and assistance being provided to businesses under this initiative, namely:
Simplified customs procedures, less physical and documentation clearance checks as compared to other economic operators; priority treatment and priority notification in case of selection for customs control; the opportunity to request specific venues other than customs offices for customs controls.
On his part, Prime Minister Rama said that the simplified processes and procedures for businesses, best materialized in their daily work and practices are the best possible answer regarding the benefit of the Open Balkans initiative, thanks to which a European space of interaction is being created.
“This is crucially important for the fact that the initiative becomes more tangible and concrete in the eyes of everyone asking ‘What the Open Balkans is all about?’ and provide a very simple answer to all the fantasies and imaginary conspiracies, paranoia and, of course, the toxic propaganda against cooperation, against peace, against development and against the future generations.
On the other hand, I very much believe that the more concrete examples stand before the eyes and the ears of the people, the clearer everything becomes. It is amazing that we are succeeding in significantly easing the procedures and will continue to provide more facilities and assistance to all of those who for many years in fact have been exchanging with these three countries and for years have been tormented because of the barbaric forms of old bureaucratic and communication ways that have nothing in common with the European space of interaction. A European space for interaction is being created here,” PM Rama said.
