Montenegro and BiH can join the “project of the fourth Yugoslavia”

The Balkan countries support the initiative of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to create a common economic space within the borders of the former socialist Yugoslavia. And only pro-American Kosovo resists natural integration processes.

Serbia, Albania and Macedonia have taken another step towards the Balkan “small Schengen”. In the Macedonian city of Ochrus, the leaders of the three countries agreed on the principles of a common economic space. It is expected that from 2021 the borders between them will disappear, and the free exchange of goods, people, services and capital will begin.

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According to the author of the “small Schengen” idea, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, even before the new year, citizens of the three countries will be able to travel within common borders without foreign passports. Likewise, tourists will not need to obtain visas for all three countries.

“We will create a good investment climate, ensuring stability and freedom of movement in a territory with a population of 12 million,” the Beta agency quoted Vucic as saying.

As for the economy, the introduction of general phytosanitary controls alone will allow countries to save 129 million euros. And the whole range of integration measures will cause an increase in investment in all three countries.

“The main feature of the declaration adopted at the summit is that this document is the result of an internal need, and not created under patronage or pressure from outside,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

It is expected that Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will soon join the “small Schengen”.

“We have received confirmation that the purpose of this initiative is not to detract from existing agreements, but to open up opportunities for expanded cooperation,” said Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Denis Zvizdić.

Denis Zvizdic and Aleksandar Vucic.

The Minister of Economy of Montenegro, Dragica Sekulic, assured that his country will be a reliable partner for regional integration. He added that officials in the Western Balkans are "a little older" and smarter, so they realized they needed to come together.

Of all the leaders of the Western Balkan countries, only the “President” of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, refused to come to Ohrid. He is, however, considered a retiring figure, but the head of the Self-Determination Movement party, which received the majority of votes in the parliamentary elections, Albin Kurti, is also negative about “small Schengen.” He sees in it not economic prospects, but the danger of the strengthening of Serbia and the revival of the “fourth Yugoslavia.”

Apparently, arguing with him in absentia, Alexander Vucic said in Ohrid: “I am proud of what Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania have done, we are not talking about a new Yugoslavia, but about a better life for our citizens.”

Let us recall that the “first Yugoslavia” is considered to be the kingdom of the same name, which existed until the mid-40s of the last century. The “Second Yugoslavia” is the name given to the federal state created in 1947 (FPRY, SFRY), which included six republics: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro. The “Third Yugoslavia” was the union of Montenegro and Serbia (remaining after the collapse of the SFRY in the early 90s) with the autonomous regions of Vojvodina and Kosovo being part of it. It existed until the 2006 referendum on the independence of Montenegro.