The presidents of both Serbia and Albania signed a new deal, dubbed a ''Mini-Schengen'' agreement, which will allow passport-free movement between the countries and could change travel restrictions with the EU.
A new deal, part of the so-called ‘Mini-Schengen initiative’ has just been signed by both Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama during an online meeting also attended by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev.
This new accord will permit freedom of movement between the 2 countries for both Serbian and Albanian citizens without the need to present a passport at border control checkpoints: they will simply be able to present a national ID card to gain entry.
The Mini-Schengen action plan for freedom of movement and a common regional market between Western Balkan states now has the support of Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Montenegro the only holdout.
CHANGES IMPLICATED BY THE MINI-SCHENGEN AGREEMENT
Between 2021-2024, the action plan aims to implement the four freedoms on which the European Union is based and that EU countries currently enjoy: goods, services, and capital in addition to freedom of movement.
Albania, North Macedonia, and Serbia aim to increase cooperation by reducing administrative barriers and harmonizing regulations.
The agreement aims to facilitate the movement of people and goods across borders by making it easier for citizens of the 3 countries to travel freely between them.
Some potential changes of the agreement for the participating countries include:
- Increased trade: it could lead to increased trade and economic growth by eliminating trade barriers and facilitating the movement of goods and services between the participating countries.
- Enhanced regional cooperation: The agreement could help promote cooperation on issues such as security and infrastructure development, which would strengthen regional ties.
- Improved mobility: The agreement aims to reduce barriers to travel within the region and make it easier for citizens of participating countries to visit each other, which could have positive social and economic impacts.
- Increased foreign investment: A more integrated regional market in the Balkans could make the region more attractive to foreign investors.
The Mini-Schengen Agreement is still in its early stages, but it may prove to be successful in achieving these goals.
EXISTING ACCORDS BETWEEN BALKAN STATES
The mini-Schengen regional cooperation initiative, modelled after the Schengen Agreement which allows passport-free movement between the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area, was first created by the 3 Western Balkan countries in October 2019.
However, the program is not the first time that countries in the region have made a deal for economic cooperation. In fact, 6 Balkan countries, also including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Macedonia, have been working together under the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) for over a decade.
Through the CEFTA agreement, many of the countries involved have already seen a high foreign trade surplus, with Serbia exporting over 3.06 billion euros worth of goods to CEFTA countries, and receiving imports worth over 978 million euros, in 2019 alone.
The signing of the mini-Schengen agreement is only set to strengthen the regional market, with Zeljko Sain, a professor at the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo, claiming that the deal gives the market an “opportunity to prove its competitiveness” and improve the ease of import of products from key industries.
He also stated that the ultimate goal of the agreement is mutual cooperation with the aim of exporting joint products to third markets and, eventually, entry to the European Union for the countries involved. If any of the participating countries join the EU, their CEFTA membership will end.
HOW THE MINI-SCHENGEN ACCORD WILL CHANGE THE EU
The signing of the Mini-Schengen deal between Albania, Serbia, and North Macedonia opens up the possibility for the free movement arrangement to be extended and include countries that are already part of the European Schengen Area. The main change that could be seen is increased economic growth and cooperation between member states.
Additionally, the agreement does not directly impact the EU accession process of these countries, but it may provide a boost to their chances of joining the EU by promoting stability and cooperation in the region. However, EU accession is a long and complex process that depends on various factors, including political, economic, and social reforms.
It's difficult to predict how the agreement will affect relations between participating countries and their neighbours in the region.
It could lead to closer cooperation and integration between the countries, which could have positive effects on their relations with neighbouring countries.
On the other hand, it could also be viewed as a form of exclusion by non-participating countries and potentially strain relations.
Overall, the impact of the Mini-Schengen Agreement on regional relations will likely depend on how it is perceived and implemented by all parties involved.
This new accord between Albania and Serbia occurs just when the EU is planning to overhaul the Schengen Area.
HOW MINI-SCHENGEN WILL AFFECT TRAVELLERS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
In addition to facilitating tourist travel between Member States, the signing of the mini-Schengen deal between Serbia and Albania seems as though it could increase the chances of the countries of joining the EU and Schengen Area in the near future.
If these Balkan countries do begin the process of joining the Schengen Area by 2026 , it may be necessary for all third-country nationals who wish to travel to the region to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver for Europe before they can visit for short stays.
The ETIAS travel authorisation is being implemented for all the countries currently in the Schengen Area, as well as countries in the process of joining Schengen, such as Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus. This is to pre-screen visa-free travellers before they arrive in the region, with the aim of providing a better, more modern travel experience and also strengthening Europe’s external borders.
Once the system is introduced, travellers will be required to submit an ETIAS application online before travelling to the Schengen Area, and receive approval before boarding a flight to Europe.