Better transport connectivity and greater mobility strengthen the connection and encourage cooperation between the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU, promote economic opportunities and have a favorable effect on the standard of citizens, it was assessed at the Summit on connectivity, which was held in Budva at the beginning of the week.
The summit, organized by CEFTA and the Transport Community, brought together transport ministers, directors of customs services and other high-ranking officials of the Western Balkans and neighboring EU member states, as well as observers in the transport community.
The participants reflected on the projects implemented so far and exchanged opinions on further dynamics and perspectives of cooperation in order to further improve the transport, security and infrastructure connectivity of the countries for the benefit of the citizens of the region.
The Montenegrin Minister of Capital Investments, Ervin Ibrahimović, said that the countries of the region are facing a big and challenging task, the realization of which will improve mobility and transport connectivity, as well as strengthen the ties of the countries of the Western Balkans.
“Investment in the construction of new and improvement of the existing transport infrastructure brings benefits to the entire region,” said Ibrahimović. The director of the CEFTA Secretariat, Emir Đikić, said that the summit is an opportunity to discuss how CEFTA can further help in connection.
According to him, the abolition of customs duties in the region is one of the first steps towards that goal, but it is necessary to do everything in order for the companies of the region to be more competitive on the regional and European markets.
Đikić added that in this context it is important to continue work on the Green Corridors that were introduced during the pandemic, and on their expansion towards the European border. He explained that this means that trucks pass more quickly, not only the internal borders of the region, but also to the EU, since 70 percent of the exports of CEFTA members go to the EU Đikić said that this is a priority for all CEFTA parties.
Director of the Revenue and Customs Administration, Vladimir Bulajić, pointed out the importance of infrastructure improvement and the establishment of integrated border management, which contributes to greater security, ease of procedures, as well as shortening the time passengers and goods are held at border crossings.
He said that the introduction of unique templates, i.e. travel with one approval in the Western Balkans region, would contribute to cost reduction and more efficient management of resources.
The Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo, Liburn Aliu, assessed that infrastructural projects contribute to ensuring a direct connection between the EU and the Western Balkan region, and that the countries of the region have multiple benefits from the implementation of these projects.
According to him, some of those benefits relate to the reduction of transportation costs, and the creation of free space for the movement of people and goods, which encourages economic growth.
Aliu also stated that the modernization of the transport system contributes to the reduction of harmful gas emissions, which directly contributes to the protection of the environment in the entire region.
The General Director of the Customs of Kosovo, Agron Llugaliu, particularly emphasized the importance of the systemic exchange of electronic data (SEED), especially the improved version, the implementation of which will create the possibility of additional binding of the competent institutions of the system, the exchange of information in real time electronically, and better communication in the country and region.
That system, as he said, will enable the creation of a common database, which will be integrated in the CEFTA Secretariat, and thus enable easier reporting of different types of risks at the regional level.
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