Skopje, 22 January 2024 (MIA) - The Growth Plan also provides the existing EU member states with significant benefits. More customs facilitations, better infrastructure at the borders, and integrating the company registration systems all of that should bring down the costs of trade very fundamentally, Director General at the Directorate General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), Gert Jan Koopman said delivering remarks at the leaders' meeting on the EC's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans taking place in Skopje on Monday.

He said that he was encouraged by the work undertaken so far by North Macedonia and noted that he believed the Growth Plan has the potential to transform the region and could accelerate the EU accession process.

“I am very encouraged by the work that is being undertaken on the reform agenda in North Macedonia. Your lead negotiators with our teams are well advanced and think this is not gone unnoticed in the EU. Today we are looking at the internal market, common regional market dimension of the Growth Plan, and it is fundamentally crucial for boosting growth and to double the size of the economies. I often mention the fact that with EU accession, trade grows. We are here to assist you,” Koopman said.

He added that he is encouraged by North Macedonia's commitment and stressed the need for countries to collaborate, avoiding any blockades, as the cost of non-cooperation is very high.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, addressing the leaders’ meeting today, said that the green lanes are more important for them than the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

“It is something we see as a great initiative. For us it’s more important green lanes than SEPA, which is also important and I am not underestimating the importance of SEPA, but for us green lanes are most important. That will be very helpful in creating better business environment for our people but also for all the others that would like to invest in this region,” Vučić said.

He noted that they are open to ideas whenever discussing the common regional market. He emphasized the need for countries to align on economic measures before joining the EU.

“We have a big plea for all of you from regional organisaitions and from EU to be helpful to us on some issues because we have to resolve some difficult problems that we are faced with. We have to align ourselves on economic measures and subsidy policy before joining the EU,” Vučić said.

Vučić emphasized that this could be a positive step towards connecting the region, similar to the Open Balkans initiative.

"It's good, all that we have discussed so far. We have talked about economy and people, and that is something that we can always find a common denominator, which is good," Vučić said.

The meeting brings together representatives of regional organizations, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), CEFTA and the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF), as well as international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the World Bank.

Photo: screenshot