Bregu: Cooperation is not a choice, but a necessity

2024-10-01 19:54:00, Aktualitet CNA

The General Secretary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, participated in the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Berlin Process that took place today in the German capital.

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, praised the work of the RCC and its General Secretary, Majlinda Bregu, emphasizing the essential contribution to the implementation of the Common Regional Market.

"Taking stock of the 10 years of the Berlin Process, I can say that there is much to be proud of for the concrete achievements through our regional cooperation agendas. The uninterrupted flow of critical goods during the pandemic and beyond, the green lanes that are already a reality not only within the Balkans, but have also expanded with the EU; doubling the volume of trade within the region for goods in 5 years; 500% increase in roaming usage within the Western Balkans; nearly 1,200 new companies have participated in trade within the region; facilitating labor mobility and addressing changing labor market dynamics and demographic shifts with mutual recognition of higher education qualifications and seven professions. All these, known and unknown, have made 82% of the citizens of the Western Balkans support regional cooperation," Bregu said at the meeting. "The RCC, at the head of which I had the honor to serve during six years of of late, has led the work for the Common Regional Market as the main platform for regional cooperation and integration. This market has demonstrated what a true Regional Market could look like, while also providing an insight into the potentials of the Single European Market remaining, political blockades or unfulfilled commitments, together with great untapped potentials, are also part of the same balance that the region must try to address," added Bregu.

Bregu: Cooperation is not a choice, but a necessity

She emphasized that the RCC, together with partners, is working on the new plan of the Common Regional Market, whose approval is expected at the Berlin Process Summit later this month.

"Regional cooperation should not only be for signing agreements, but for the full implementation of commitments. It is not enough to point the finger or wait for others to lead. There is room for everyone to do more. We all need more integration than disintegration; we all need more cooperation than isolation; we all need more unity not only in words but in actions; we need better planning and stable financial instruments as part of BP's gradual EU membership, we need a grown-up mindset, not just a Growth Plan. This is a collective journey if we are to bring about real and lasting change. Cooperation is not a choice, but a necessity! We owe it to ourselves and future generations," concluded Bregu.

After the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of the EU and the Western Balkans issued a statement on the strengthening of cooperation, assessing the achievements in the agendas coordinated by the RCC for CRM. They agreed on the Joint Declaration reaffirming good neighborly relations and regional cooperation, which is expected to be adopted at the Berlin Summit later this month.