In Serbia visit, PM appeals for regional Benelux economic model

“The creation of a regional common market should be the common goal. Many studies clearly show that things that to us, who look at them from a distance seem simple, have been more difficult for the Benelux countries,” said Rama.
TIRANA, Nov. 11 – In his historic visit to Serbia, the first by an Albanian Prime Minister since almost seven decades, PM Edi Rama has appealed for regional cooperation and the establishment of a common market similar to the Benelux model.
Speaking this week in Belgrade at a forum on Albania-Serbia cooperation, Rama said “I believe that the existing cooperation can and should be developed starting with economy.”
“The creation of a regional common market should be the common goal. We should not think about this as if it was something too big. Because many studies clearly show that things that to us, who look at them from a distance seem simple, have been more difficult for the Benelux countries. However, these countries were wise to not exaggerate obstacles, not to get stalled before these obstacles and had the will, the goodwill, to move in parallel and to build, while talking about things they did not agree on.”
Rama had earlier noted that cooperation among Benelux countries could be a good example for Western Balkans countries. “Different studies show that Benelux countries were not necessarily compatible for cooperation but the success of their interaction is a result of their determination for cooperation,” he had said.
Speaking about the concrete Serbia- Albania economic cooperation, Rama pointed out the potential to increase current trade exchanges.
“We have an exchange of approximately 100 million Euros; we have approximately 65 Serb-owned enterprises in the country. Obviously, this is not a big number, but not a small one either. It is a figure that shows that people, our people, your people have been quick to understand where the challenges are, how this joint space can be transferred in a shared space and how profit can create opportunities and chances for this shared space,” Rama told Serb businessmen.
In an earlier joint press conference with his Albanian counterpart, Serb Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said ‘We want Serbian investors to visit Albania, not only related to the energy sector but also to other fields of mutual interest.”
The talks specifically addressed the project of Belgrade-Tirana railway, added Vucic, noting that the project will gain the EU support easier if the two countries jointly insist on it. However, Prime Minister Rama was rather sceptical about the project considering the limited budget opportunities both Albania and Serbia have.
The Albanian and Serbian governments signed an agreement on mutual assistance in the prevention, investigation and combating of customs offences.
Serbia is one of Albania’s top trade partners in the region especially regarding imports mainly dominated by electricity and minerals.
INSTAT data Albania’s exports to Serbia reached a historic high of 2.25 billion lek (around Euro 16 million) while imports dropped to 15 billion lek (Euro 107 million), down from a historic high of 23 billion lek (Euro 165 million) in 2012.