Three Balkan countries – Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania – have agreed to end their mutual border controls by 1 January 2023. The government leaders of the three countries met on Thursday (29 July) during the Economic Forum for Regional Co-operation in Skopje. This decision will increase trade and co-operation, and improve bilateral relations between the countries.
The prime minister of Albania, Edi Rama, said in a press conference afterwards that the three countries will work more closely together and that this co-operation should support the aspirations of all three countries to join the European Union.
The countries, all candidates for membership of the European Union, are working together under the banner 'Open Balkans'. Neighbouring countries Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been invited to join the initiative, but so far they have not accepted the invitation.
