Skopje, 8 June 2022 (MIA) – The Open Balkan initiative is an opportunity for the region to change the reality and overcome challenges it has faced for many years if not decades. Open Balkan can also be an opportunity to speed up the EU path. If we do the job properly, the region’s Euro-integration will accelerate, said European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in an address at the Open Balkan Summit in Ohrid on Wednesday. Commissioner Varhelyi said the Open Balkan idea was devised by the region and the idea is supported by the European Union. “I say this because when we are talking about EU accession, marriages or other symbols have been mentioned, but most of the talk is about processes. We are talking about negotiating frameworks, non-papers etc. Nevertheless, let me be sincere with you, and I should probably not say this in my capacity as commissioner, but this is really not interesting. It is not interesting for the people in Europe or the people in the Western Balkans, because their main question is ‘when will we live as they live in Europe, when will we have the same opportunities, be it economic or social, as people in the EU do, and when will we have all barriers between the EU and the Western Balkans removed?’ This is real integration and it begins with economy and society,” said Varhelyi. According to him, regional cooperation, EU’s economic and investment plan would not be a success because there is no point of networking Western Balkans capital with roads and railways if trucks stop and wait at every border. “There is no point talking about EU accession and Europeanization of the region if people’s diplomas must be recognized in order to work within the area, an hour away from your home. It is worth nothing if your business cannot trade or sell its products and services in the region. The region has its potential and only the region can deliver. Open Balkan should move forward by signing agreements that make people’s lives easier,” added Varhelyi. He encouraged regional countries to use the existing structures such as CEFTA and the Regional Cooperation Council and use the knowledge, infrastructure and readiness to transfer to the next level. “This is a very positive initiative and this is the future that can be created today and we should fully use it,” underlined Varhelyi.