Bregu: Regional cooperation is becoming a reliable model that follows the magnetic pull of the EU

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Less than three months ago, this region committed and signed an agreement that introduces the Western Balkans into a zone of free roaming, based on the "Roam Like at Home" (RLAH) model of the European Union (EU). Yesterday, this became a reality – meaning our citizens will talk more, browse the internet, send more SMS messages, and pay less, and in two years there will be no roaming costs within the region, while costs towards the EU will be much lower. This was not given to us, but we worked hard to achieve it – hard and fast, states the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, in a blog published today.

"It all comes down to realistic expectations seasoned with a large amount of determination, strength, and will of the political region, as well as the genuine support of European leaders. Therefore, we have high expectations from the upcoming Summit in Poznan, one in a series of Western Balkan summits within the Berlin Process, which began a few years ago on the initiative of the German Government. One of those summits, specifically the one in Trieste in 2017, brought us the adoption of the Multi-annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA), which also includes the new Regional Roaming Agreement, writes Bregu.

However, she adds, MAP REA is not just about roaming. The Berlin Process has yielded many good initiatives.

"This region has made significant progress in preparing the ground for mutual recognition of academic qualifications within the six Western Balkan economies (WB6), which opens up space for the mobility of qualified individuals seeking employment anywhere in the region, in a simple and fast manner; harmonization of national investment policies with the Regional Investment Reform Agenda (RIRA), with joint development of a framework plan to promote this region as an investment-friendly destination, as the Western Balkans needs a cocktail of domestic reforms, ownership of EU-supported reforms, and regional cooperation to become more attractive for foreign direct investment (FDI); development of a plan for the integration of Roma in the region, improving their living conditions by meeting basic human needs: housing, employment, education, healthcare, civil registration; digital integration has already made progress in many areas – regional digital summits are functioning (we are preparing for the third edition in Tirana next year, after two successfully held in Skopje and Belgrade), and there is joint work on cybersecurity issues, broadband internet access policies, etc.," believes Bregu.

She adds that all this is owed to the citizens.

"We owe all this to the citizens – the citizens of the Western Balkans who live here and want to stay here – so we must surpass ourselves in turning this region into their desired destination. The latest edition of the public opinion and business survey, the Balkan Barometer 2019, conducted by the Regional Cooperation Council, shows what people actually want: they want jobs – 60% of them are concerned about unemployment, but they are increasingly concerned about corruption and brain drain; 39% are considering leaving the region to seek employment abroad. On the other hand, they believe in the benefits of regional cooperation (74%) and European integration (56% - more than half of the population, for the first time in 5 editions of the Balkan Barometer; this particularly applies to young people – 61%). Businessmen are sending even stronger messages: 70% are satisfied with the abolition of roaming charges because it helps their business; 67% appreciate the quality of regional cooperation and consider it useful, and 64% think so about EU membership, according to the blog of the RCC Secretary General.

However, she adds, there are numerous problems and disagreements in the region.

"But honestly, no one was naive enough to think that interests would magically align after less than three years of the regional economic area idea. This is the present: for me, REA today is more than a set of pillars (it is true that not all of them stand upright and firm together), with room for new ideas, but I see it mostly as a model of realizing that regional cooperation works in our best interest. Common values and interests must be quickly translated into ownership and greater willingness to cooperate in removing existing obstacles to regional cooperation. In the end, the ties that bind us are stronger than the individual decisions that divide us," stated Bregu.

"To summarize – roaming prices were reduced on July 1st. The Summit of Western Balkan countries will begin on July 4th in Poznan. The EU has a magnetic pull, and regional cooperation is becoming a reliable model. For the sake of the future, let's look back at the past because an unpleasant past still poses a threat! But REA has a clear status, and at its core is togetherness. Let's empower the regional economic area and regional cooperation to chart a path for sustainable and long-term reconciliation in the Western Balkans! Through economy, by removing all existing obstacles!" according to the blog of the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu.