Business Dialogue

Rama: Even the Berlin Process Benefited from Open Balkan

The Open Balkan initiative has brought only good things to the region, said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, insisting that Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina was wrong not to participate in the initiative. “Look at the trade between countries and remember that what is done cannot be undone. Even the Berlin Process benefited from the Open Balkan initiative,” said Rama at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski during his visit to Skopje. Speaking about the Berlin Process, which Albania will preside over in October, Rama said it is now clearer than ever that the EU needs us, just as we need it.

European Commission Launched €2.1 Billion Investment Package for WB

The European Commission has launched a new financial package to support 14 investment flagships in transport, energy, environment, human capital and private sector support in the Western Balkans, worth a total of €2.1 billion. This is the fifth investment package under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans. Projects have been prepared in close cooperation with Western Balkan partners and international financial institutions to accelerate the European Union prospects of the region. EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “With this new investment package, we are sending a loud and clear message to our Western Balkans partners: their future is within the EU.

Vienna Institute: Montenegro’s Economy Will Have Highest Growth in The Region

Montenegro’s economy will have the region’s highest growth this year, at 3.5 per cent, forecasts the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, as reported by RTCG. According to the Vienna Institute forecast, Montenegro’s economy will be ahead of Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. Montenegrin Economic Development and Tourism Minister Goran Đurović even went a step further, stating that the growth of the Montenegrin economy will be among the highest in Europe. “According to the latest forecasts, the growth of the Montenegrin economy will be among the highest in Europe.”

Kovačevski: Open Balkan Yields Results

The single electronic toll collection between North Macedonia and Serbia is the best confirmation that the Open Balkan initiative is yielding results, said North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski. “If we look at the research, the Open Balkan initiative has huge support and has produced results in just three months. Serbian and Macedonian engineers have created a solution for a single electronic toll collection,” Kovačevski said. He said the increased trade exchange affirms the Open Balkan initiative, which has a bright future. “We also dealt with the exchange of experts and professionals; we are working on overcoming obstacles to the recognition of diplomas”.

Change of Highway Tolls Between Serbia and Croatia

Toll road collection between Serbia and Croatia will be integrated in September, as announced by the Government of Serbia following the signing of a Memorandum on Business Cooperation between “Roads of Serbia” and “Croatian Motorways”. This document will enable the collection of highway tolls through the two countries. “At the start of July, we began the integrated billing process between Serbia and North Macedonia, and we already have fantastic results. More than 12,000 reconfigurations, and every day we have about 1,000 passengers who perform reconfiguration. From September, we will also have that with Croatia, so all those with Serbian tags can pass the ramps in Croatia without any problems, said Minister Goran Vesić.

New Croatian Law to Stop Shops Working on Sundays

A new trade law has come into effect in Croatia, and according to it shops will be closed on most Sundays, and traders can choose 16 weeks of the year during which they will be open. According to the law, the trader determines the working hours of sales facilities from Monday to Saturday, for a total duration of up to 90 hours per week, which he distributes independently. Exceptions are sales facilities at railway and bus stations, airports and ports, ferries and gas stations, as well as in hospitals, hotels, cultural and religious institutions and museums. Also, on Sundays, shops can open inside marinas, campsites, farms and protected nature areas following special regulations.