Skopje, 9 August 2021 (MIA) – ‘Open Balkan’ is complementary, not contrary to the European Union. It strengthens our European agenda, while all three countries remain committed to their EU accession requirements, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev wrote in an article for Serbian daily ‘Politika’. He added that North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania have agreed not to halt their EU integration, despite Brussels’ confusing signals regarding enlargement. “While the Union supports enlargement in the morning and rejects it in the evening, our path remains the same, European, undoubtedly committed to cooperation, friendship, solidarity, freedom and better lives for all citizens in the region,” Zaev wrote. The PM underlined that the ‘Open Balkan’ initiative is an expression of the strong political will of North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, an initiative of great public interest that rejecting all Balkan stereotypes. “Instead of destiny, we chose future. Instead of yesterday – today and tomorrow. We took destiny into our own hands and provided new perspectives for our countries, people, economies and societies. The Macedonian, Albania and Serbian people, as well as all others living here in the Balkans, have the same path ahead of them. We have a vision and European values – not walls and divisive policies. We’re building bridges, not walls,” Zaev stressed. According to him, the spirit of the initiative is European, as it contains EU’s principles of free movement of people, goods, capital and services. “’Open Balkan’ demonstrates our progress, following the will of the majority of our people. There’s no more waiting and rejection. We welcome all help on our European path, but most of all help from the European Union, our natural, expected and long-standing partner,” the PM noted. He added that the initiative is open to the rest of the Western Balkan countries. “Join us, for the sake of our people,” read Zaev’s article. Moreover, he underlined expectations that the initiative will benefit national budgets, as well as improve the lives of millions of citizens. The only way to improve life in the region, according to Zaev, is to bring Europe home.