The leaders of the Western Balkans six today signed three agreements on mobility at the Summit of the Berlin Process, which enable travel with an ID card in the region, mutual recognition of university diplomas and professional qualifications.
The agreements were signed in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Secretary of the Council for Regional Cooperation Majlinda Bregu, President of the Council of Ministers of BiH Zoran Tegeltija, Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, Prime Ministers of North Macedonia Dimitar Kovačevski, Prime Ministers of Montenegro Dritan Abazović, Albania Edi Rama and Prime Minister of Pristina’s temporary institutions, Aljbin Kurti.
The agreement on the freedom of movement and residence of citizens, that is, on the mutual recognition of identity cards, simplifies the crossing of the borders of the inhabitants of the Western Balkans, considering that possession of an identity card is sufficient. In addition, the agreement foresees the simplification of administrative procedures for the entry, transit and short stay of residents of the Western Balkans.
The agreement on the recognition of academic qualifications regulates the mutual recognition of university degrees, including the access of citizens to the labor market in all signatory countries. To begin with, the agreement will be applied to state universities, and then it will be extended to private ones as well. The aim will be to enable better circulation of young people in the region.
The agreement on mutual recognition of professional qualifications for doctors, dentists and architects foresees the automatic recognition of professional qualifications for selected professions, which are lacking in the labor market. This agreement establishes a uniform application of the rules and creates a basis for the mobility of professionals throughout the region.
The Berlin Process was established in 2014 as a platform for all the countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) to speed up EU rapprochement and strengthen regional integration and cooperation, which is crucial for economic growth and peace on Western Balkans, Klix.ba reports.
E.Dz.
