The Berlin Process is an initiative aimed at increasing regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and aiding the integration of the BP countries into the European Union. It was launched on August 28, 2014, by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.<\/p>\n
The goals of the Process were described in the Final Declaration by the German Presidency: “To make additional real progress in the reform process, in resolving outstanding bilateral and internal issues and in achieving reconciliation within and between societies in the region”<\/em>, as well as increasing “regional economic cooperation and lay the foundations for sustainable growth”<\/em> [1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Berlin Process has four stated objectives:<\/p>\n – solving open bilateral and internal problems of the Western Balkan states,<\/p>\n – reconciliation within and between societies in the region,<\/p>\n – improving regional economic cooperation and<\/p>\n – creating a base for sustainable growth.<\/p>\n The Berlin Process is developed with the support of the European Commission, international financial institutions and the member states involved in the Process \u2013 Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom together with the countries of the Western Balkans. It is an additional aid to the institutional process of EU integration of the states, based on the approval of the acquis-communautaire<\/em>.<\/p>\n Within the framework of the Berlin process, the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Investment Forum of the Western Balkan Chambers (WBCIF) have been created, which are indisputable achievements of the Berlin Process.<\/p>\n The July 2021 Berlin Process Summit approved in principle the creation of Green Corridors and the Roaming Agreement (from July 2021) for the reduction of roaming charges. Both results are important achievements of regional cooperation within the Berlin process.<\/p>\n Some of the results that have earned the right to be financed and to create more added value according to the principles of the Berlin process are:<\/p>\n Creation of the structure of the Common Regional Market (TPT\/CRM) [2]<\/a>, as a complementary part of CEFTA While the will of the governments has been committed to commit to a series of documents on bilateral issues, joint statements on regional cooperation and good neighborly relations, including the integration of the Roma, statements on missing persons and war crimes, guidelines for the solution of the issue of illegal small and light weapons and their illegal proliferation, commitments against corruption, as well as Commitments in the field of security.<\/p>\n In these 10 years[3]<\/a>, the grants given[4]<\/a> to Albania have been oriented towards investments to improve the quality of the environment in tourist areas, for the cross-border energy sector with North Macedonia (interconnection)[5]<\/a>, the cross-border railway connection with Malin e Zi, Vor\u00eb-Hani i Hoti, (part of the Mediterranean corridor)[6]<\/a>, projects for energy efficiency, the rehabilitation of HEC Fierza, the floating photovoltaic plantation in the basin of HEC Vau i Deja, the construction of the bypass of Tirana (part of the Mediterranean corridor), as well as the construction of technology laboratories.<\/p>\n But, although we counted the achievements above as successes of this 10-year process, it should be mentioned that in at least the last 4 years there was an overlap with the idea originally put forward by Serbia, Albania and Montenegro for the creation of “Mini Schengen<\/em>” [7]<\/a> and later in the year it was named in the “Open Balkans”<\/em> initiative, for which we expressed our reservations based on economic arguments[8]<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, both initiatives failed to gain widespread support. Even the non-participation of the three Balkan states and especially the deep disagreements between Serbia and Kosovo were the strongest part of the opposition to this initiative, always considered as a bad substitute for the Berlin process for EU expansion.<\/p>\n It is a strong approach of the states of the Western Balkans, who have perceived the initiatives imposed from outside as paternalistic projects, in which local actors simply follow the instructions. Such a duplicative approach with the “open Balkans” slowed down and turned the “Berlin Process” into a slow process.<\/p>\n In recent years, the Berlin Process seemed not to come from the depth of internal demands and processes of the Balkan states, but more like a process with beautiful images, which did not reflect the realities of the poor countries of the Western Balkans.<\/p>\n The only way they expected from this whole major initiative was to support solving economic and social problems through increased public investment. But the Berlin Process did not do enough to mobilize a bigger push for infrastructure [9]<\/a>.<\/p>\n If we add to this situation the increased level of poverty and social inequality that were strongly affected by the pandemic and further the increase in prices and other local specifics such as the case of the devaluation of the Euro in Albania, a new moment has arrived with impulses and new mindset.<\/p>\n In this meeting organized in Tirana, precisely to show an alienation of the roles of the Balkan states, as a project co-authored with the EU, comes the innovation of a new proposal called the Growth Plan [10]<\/a>, which allocates projects in four directions.<\/p>\n First,<\/em> it aims to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU’s Single Market, allowing them to join the Digital Single Market in areas such as e-commerce and cyber security. This would facilitate the trade of goods and payments. President von der Leyen stressed that the Single Market should be a driver of change not only for current EU member states, but also for those on their way to membership. Recognizing the need for investments in the region, the growth plan seems that through these investments, people’s lives will not only be improved, but also the path to EU membership will be eased. This clarity appears in the fact that, if implemented according to the commitments to be adopted in the documents and agreements between the parties, it will provide access to the single market,<\/p>\n – encouraging regional economic integration, This novel approach aims to accelerate the journey of the Western Balkans towards EU membership.<\/p>\n However, even in this meeting of the Berlin Process, it was seen that the rules for civil society continue to be made by the same individuals and organizations as before. The participation did not seem to represent representatives of civil society and think tanks in the meeting that preceded the summit of the leaders of the Berlin Process in Tirana.<\/p>\n Let’s hope for the best!<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> https:\/\/punetejashtme.gov.al\/procesi-i-berlinit\/<\/a><\/p>\n [2]<\/a> TPR\/CPR operates as i) regional trade zone (free movement of goods, services, capital, and people), ii) regional investment zone, iii) regional digital zone, and iv) regional industrial and innovation zone<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> The country has benefited from 62 grants for 355.6 million euros in technical assistance and investment co-financing. EU IPA grant support, channeled through WBIF, amounts to EUR 337.6 million and covers both technical assistance and investment works. Other donors also contributed 18 million euros.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> https:\/\/www.wbif.eu\/investment-grants<\/a><\/p>\n [5]<\/a> https:\/\/www.wbif.eu\/investmentgrants\/\/WB-IG00-ALB-ENE-01<\/a><\/p>\n [6]<\/a> https:\/\/www.wbif.eu\/investmentgrants\/\/WB-IG01-ALB-TRA-01<\/a><\/p>\n [7]<\/a> https:\/\/euronews.al\/si-u-transformua-mini-shengeni-ballkanik-ne-open-balkan\/<\/a><\/p>\n [8]<\/a> https:\/\/altax.al\/open-balkan-te-humbur-dhe-te-fituar\/<\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/altax.al\/investimet-e-huaja-direkte-te-lidhura-me-barren-tatimore-ne-ballkanin-perendimor\/<\/a><\/p>\n [9]<\/a> https:\/\/wiiw.ac.at\/the-berlin-process-for-the-western-balkans-four-recommendations-to-achieve-progress-n-582.html<\/a><\/p>\n [10]<\/a> https:\/\/neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu\/news\/president-von-der-leyen-travels-tirana-discusses-accession-process-new-growth-plan-western-balkans-2023-10-13_en<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Berlin Process is an initiative aimed at increasing regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and aiding the integration of the BP countries into the European Union. It was launched […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16536,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10475],"tags":[11368,11755,9715,12460,12413,8265,11757,12462,12457,12463,8622,9792,9770,11756,12459,12461,12458,8951],"class_list":["post-16535","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","tag-be","tag-berlin-process","tag-civil-society","tag-council-of-europe","tag-ekonomia-en","tag-energy","tag-eu","tag-eu-membership","tag-growth-plan","tag-ict","tag-infrastructure","tag-investments-en-2","tag-mini-schengen-en-2","tag-open-balkans","tag-recommendations","tag-regional-integration","tag-unique-market","tag-western-balkans"],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/altax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/proc.berlini-1140x445.jpg",1140,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/altax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/proc.berlini-463x348.jpg",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/altax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/proc.berlini-300x203.jpg",300,203,true],"full":["https:\/\/altax.al\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/proc.berlini.jpg",1429,967,false]},"yoast_head":"\n
\n– 37 transport projects, 8 energy projects, 2 sustainability programs (energy, renewable energies)
\n– Investments in broadband (digital) infrastructure,
\n– Soft measures in energy and transport,
\n– Investment Forum of WB6 Chambers,
\n– Support for SMEs through WDIF
\n– Pilot project for young civil servants,
\n– Social cooperation projects
\n– Cooperation in transition ecology<\/p>\n
\nSecond<\/em>, the plan aims to deepen regional economic integration through the creation of a common regional market. This market is crucial for unlocking the region’s economic potential and making it more attractive to European investors. Adherence to EU rules and standards within this regional common market could also speed up the membership process.
\nThe third<\/em> direction of the growth plan is the acceleration of fundamental reforms in the Western Balkans. These reforms, such as building an independent and efficient judiciary, ensuring sound public procurement, and intensifying the fight against corruption, are essential for increasing investor confidence.
\nFourth<\/em>, the EU’s readiness to support the Western Balkans is expanded with increased pre-accession funding.<\/p>\n
\nThe growth plan provides a comprehensive approach to support the Western Balkans and shows more clearly the EU’s commitment to bringing these countries closer to the Union.<\/p>\n
\n– promoting the necessary reforms and
\n– raising pre-membership funds.<\/p>\n