Skopje, 20 April 2023 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj said Thursday regional cooperation is being intensified with the Open Balkan initiative, which already allows to practically see and experience the functioning of the common market, based on European rules and procedures.

"Open Balkan speeds up our European integration. It is an excellent introduction to integrating the Macedonian economy into the European internal market. To point out once again, Open Balkan is in function of the EU, not a substitute for the EU," Marichikj stressed in his address at the event "Regional integration of the labor market: Challenges and opportunities from the Open Balkan initiative and EU accession", organized by Finance Think on Thursday. 

The Deputy PM said reforms are coming, which will have to be structural and comprehensive, if we want to quickly overcome the challenges faced by the labor market and cancel the implications that it leaves on the Macedonian economy.

He added that pay rise is the Government's goal and priority, which according to him will be critical in retaining staff at home, especially as of this summer when citizens from the Open Balkan countries get free access to the labor market in North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania.

"In this way competition grows, companies fight for better workers, workers for better jobs, and thus working conditions improve and wages rise. Naturally, without major interventions from the state, i.e. by creating conditions for a free labor market," said Marichikj. 

Finance Think Executive Director Blagica Petreski pointed to three aspects needed to assess the effects of the Open Balkan initiative on the labor market, which, according to her, include the structure of the labor market, wage premiums, as well as readiness for structural changes.

From the point of view of the Open Balkan initiative, as the main advantages, she pointed to replenishment of shortage of workers with workers from neighboring countries and regions, but she also warned about risks in the area of ​​deficient occupations, where mobility is greater.

"Overall, in conclusion, the key benefits from both the Open Balkan initiative and the overall accession negotiations with the European Union are that we make structural changes and systemic solutions that will close the gaps that currently exist on the labor market," said Petreski. 

Albania's Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, Endrit Yzeiraj, said the region has many similar challenges and many similar potentials. 

"Similar problems can be seen in Albania. We have seen how the most productive and talented workers leave mostly to Western European countries where wages are higher. That is why there is a great need in Albania, I believe in the region as well, to increase productivity, to improve the types of businesses that we attract to the region in order to be more competitive and more fun for people," said Yzeiraj. 

Mihailo Gajić from Serbia's Libek Institute said that Serbia, as the largest country in the region, has the lowest unemployment rate in recent years, but pointed out that there are gaps similar to those in North Macedonia, adding that his country now has a great need for IT specialists, as well as people who are specialized in the tourism sector and even in construction.

As part of the program, Despina Tumanoska from Finance Think presented research on the reforms and the situation in terms of these issues, which was followed by a panel discussion on challenges and opportunities from the Open Balkan inititive and the EU accession. 

Фото: МИА