TIRANA, Oct 15 /ATA/- The Berlin Process Summit, which is held for the first time in the region and specifically in Tirana, will bring together on Monday, all the leaders of the Balkan countries, the member states of the European Union and the highest representatives of the EU.
The press office of the Prime Minister has published the full agenda of this Summit, which is the first one held in the Western Balkans region, in a non-EU member country.
The Berlin Process is an initiative aimed at increasing regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and providing assistance for the integration of the countries of the region into the European Union.
It was launched on August 28, 2014, by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The goals of the Process were laid down in the Final Declaration by the German Presidency: “Making 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,” as well as increasing “regional economic cooperation and laying the foundations for sustainable growth.”
The Berlin Process is being developed with the support of the European Commission, international financial institutions and the member states involved in the Process – Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and the United Kingdom together with the countries of the Western Balkans. It is an additional support for the institutional process of EU integration of the states, based on the approval of the acquis-communautaire.
The four objectives of the Berlin Process
These objectives stated at the beginning of this process remain unchanged: the resolution of internal, outstanding bilateral problems between WB countries, the reconciliation between societies in the region, the improvement of regional economic cooperation and, finally, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth of the region.
“The establishment of the Regional Office of Youth Cooperation (RYCO) headquartered in Tirana is a tangible output towards the fulfillment of these objectives. The Investment Forum of the Six Chambers of WB (WB6 CIF) is making progress in increasing economic cooperation and creating opportunities for trade and investment within WB,” Emina Muminovic, project coordinator at the Center for Contemporary Politics headquartered in Belgrade, told DW.
Other achievements of the Berlin Process are the Green Lanes, within the region and between it and EU member states, which have facilitated economic growth and regional integration. The implementation of the Regional Roaming Agreement is expected to reduce communication costs between WB countries and with EU member countries by strengthening people-to-people connections.
But addressing outstanding bilateral and internal problems within WB, achieving reconciliation within and between its societies remain challenges for the Berlin Process.
Following is the full agenda of the Berlin Process Summit in Tirana:
At 11:00hrs a reception will be extended for the leaders
At 11:30 the opening floor will be delivered
At 12:00hrs, the kickoff of working session, integration of the region in the single European market and improvement of convergence with the EU
At 13:30hrs family photo.
At 15:30hrs the kick off of second working session, supporting the green and digital transition in the Western Balkans
At 16:45hrs, the inauguration of the College of Europe in Tirana
At 17:30 hrs, signing of the regional agreement on mutual recognition of professional qualification
At 17:45 joint press conference to be delivered
At 18:30 the inauguration ceremony of the Pyramid
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