In 2020 the Western Balkans 6 (WB6) leaders have agreed to enhance economic cooperation in the region by developing Common Regional Market (CRM). Based on the EU rules and standards, CRM aims to increase the attractiveness and competitiveness of the region and to bring the region closer to the EU markets. The steps towards the establishment of the CRM should proceed in parallel with an accelerated integration and “phasing-in” to the EU’s Single Market. By implementing the CRM agenda, WB6 committed to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people. As of Sept. 2024, there are signed 4 Mobility Agreements and the 5th one is under preparation by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
According to the latest Balkan Barometer by RCC, trust in regional cooperation in 2024 is at 82%, – the higher rate since the launch of Balkan Barometer in 2015. This underscores a growing consensus on the transformative potential of collaborative efforts within the Western Balkans and suggests a robust foundation for continued collaboration. Nearly four out of five respondents in the Western Balkans prioritize what brings them together rather than what divides them, with only about one out of ten holding the opposite view. This marks a significant increase in regional unity compared to the 2023 Balkan Barometer, highlighting strong support for collaborative efforts.
With the support from the German Federal Foreign Office, CDI and its partners continue to contribute to an inclusive policy-making process, enhancing citizen engagement and societal backing for regional cooperation. CDI and its partners have been monitoring CRM and its Mobility Agreements under the Berlin Process since early 2023, CDI has also assisted RCC in the process of consultation of the CRM 2 Action Plan with region’s CSO. It has done so by contributing to its outreach, by bringing into focus the reforms and measures the most likely to fall under CSO and thinks tanks scope of expertise and work, by collecting the CSO comments, and preparing the consolidated feedback to RCC.
For its tenth anniversary, the 2024 Berlin Process Summit will be convened in Berlin on October 14th, 2024. A main topic of discussion and focus on decision making with be the advancement of CRM with the adoption of CRM AP 2025-2028.
To discuss the progress and challenges in advancing the CRM agenda, the impact of the Growth Plan reforms, and the region’s gradual integration into the EU’s Single Market, CDI and its partners will organize the Western Balkans CRM Week from October 17th to 24th, in each WB capitals, respectively:
- 17 October in Tirana, Albania
- 18 October in Podgorica, Montenegro
- 21 October in Skopje, North Macedonia
- 22 October in Belgrade, Serbia
- 23 October in Pristina, Kosovo
- 24 October in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
This series of events held right after the WB Summit in Berlin, will highlight the achievements of the first phase of the CRM, the new commitments introduced in the CRM Action Plan 2, adopted during the 10th Summit of the Berlin Process, share the takeaways from the Berlin WB Summit, discuss inter-relations between CRN and Growth plan, and provide a base for future work. Additionally, the events will aim to gather stakeholders’ perspectives and expectations regarding the Common Regional Market.
