The ‘Vision of Summer’ wine fair took place in Belgrade on Thursday (1 September), organised within the framework of the Open Balkan initiative, a somewhat controversial regional collaboration between Serbia, Albania, and North Macedonia.
According to the Serbian presidency, the leaders of the initiative also hosted Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut, Çavuşoğlu, for the first time.
Also present was the outgoing prime minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoran Tegeltija.
During his speech at the fair, Rama said that exports with Serbia have increased in recent months.
“Today we have a trading volume between our three countries, from nearly €60 million to nearly €100 million. €36 million more than one year ago. Albanian exports to Serbia increased nearly 30% in the last year. Likewise, with North Macedonia of nearly 30%.”
In addition to sampling local wines, the leaders signed several agreements and met with representatives of institutions relating to investments, energy, and food.
Albanian Minister of Agriculture Frida Krifca declared a day before the summit that an agreement would be signed to create mechanisms guaranteeing food security, keeping markets open, and preventing interruptions.
As for the wine fair, it will take place annually from a different capital in the region, developing into an “important economic and tourist instrument.”
According to the initiators, the Open Balkans aims to enable the free movement of people, goods and services in the Western Balkans region. Still, it has not been free from criticism.
The fact Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro are not involved has raised concerns in Brussels and in regional capitals. Others fear Serbia’s involvement and influence, particularly in the context of it being Russia’s main European ally.
Meanwhile, a study by The Balkan Forum found that it carries risks of a negative impact on the region.
“The inclusion of half of BB6 in the Open Balkans initiative may have negative implications in the symbolic aspect and real cooperation,” the study found, adding that the initiative risks replacing the purpose of the Common Regional Market, which is a part of the Berlin Process.
“Although the Open Balkans initiative did not necessarily arise out of frustration over enlargement issues, the leaders involved seem to welcome the idea that they do not have to address European standards within it,” the study says.
