Zaev on Facebook: We agreed in Ohrid on measures to improve movement of people, goods and services through the region

We agreed in Ohrid on measures to improve movement of people, goods and services through the region and ensure a better life for all in a modern and peaceful Balkans, PM Zoran Zaev posted on Facebook Monday morning, following Sunday’s leaders’ meeting on the regional cooperation initiative, known as ‘mini-Schengen’.

“Crossing borders using only personal identification documents, improving border crossing efficiency and introducing fast lanes for trucks, devising a plan of how diplomas should be recognized by the countries so as to create a comprehensive offer of qualified staff from the whole region, increasing efforts for mutual recognition of diplomas, strengthening police cooperation to better fight cross-border crime, terrorism and illegal migration, and developing a joint investments platform,” Zaev listed the agreed measures in a Facebook post.

This initiative, the leaders of North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia underlined Sunday in Ohrid, does not mean backing down from European integration, but taking join action to improve border crossing and movement of people, goods and services. Western Balkan leaders said these measures should be implemented not just to satisfy criteria in the process of European integration, but improve trade, exchange ideas, and ensure free movement of people and workforce in order to create better living conditions and improve the standard of living in this part of Europe.