"It started with opposition and ended like that. In over three years of cooperation with only Serbia and North Macedonia, Albania benefited little from the Open Balkans, at least in one direction, that of the economy. The country maintained a fragile position both in foreign trade and in terms of attracting foreign investment."
The dream of a “Balkan Schengen” where borders would disappear and economies would embrace was shattered by political reality and contradictions that are not only political issues, but also history and identity. And while one initiative was fading, another was reviving. The Berlin Process…
An old format, but brought back with a clear goal: to unify the region before reaching Brussels.
"I consider the Berlin Process as a program that has several other projects within it. The Open Balkans served inter-regional cooperation for as long as it lasted, although less than expected," Mikel Qafa, an economic expert, told A2 CNN.
In the Balkans, history rarely repeats itself quietly. It often returns as a silent duel between the old and the new, between grand ideas and broken reality. In this landscape, another old but often effective actor emerges: the SEECP – the South East European Cooperation Process, which began in 1996.
"Because in SEECP, unlike the Open Balkans, there are six countries in the Region. So we have full Regional cooperation," Fatos Çoçoli, an economic expert, told A2 CNN.
At a time when alliances become obsolete faster than treaties, and where the region seeks its compass towards Brussels, Tirana once again becomes the scene for an event that speaks the language of diplomacy, but sounds like a battle for orientation.
"From the dream of the Open Balkans to the difficult reality of politics, from the rebirth of the Berlin Process to the challenges of the SEECP in Tirana - the path of cooperation is difficult, but necessary," Qafa added.
"In the heart of Europe, this is just the beginning of a battle for stability and development. And Tirana is playing the leading role in this new chapter ," Çoçoli added.
In the background, Israel-Iran tensions and international geopolitical movements make the game in the Balkans even more complicated. Each country seeks security, prosperity and a place in the European Union. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
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