2018 will be the final year of the Berlin Process, which started in Summer 2014 as a diplomatic initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel for reviving the relations between Western Balkan countries and some EU members, such as Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.
The initiative aimed to increase regional cooperation for infrastructure and economic development, and bring new impulses to the EU accession perspective.
This cycle will be completed with the London Summit this July, expressing Great Britain’s determination to continue their commitment in Western Balkan even after Brexit.
However, all parties involved in the Berlin Process think that this cooperation should continue. Hence, Germany has proposed “Berlin Process Plus”.
The EU focuses on the idea of creating jobs for qualified youth, which keeps leaving their countries for EU, USA and Canada.
Brussels is concerned about the high unemployment level in these countries, especially among youth. In Albania, it is estimated to be around 26.4%.
The biggest exodus for our country was during 2014 and 2016, due to the lack of jobs and efforts for a better future. The Berlin Process is seen as a good opportunity to stop the phenomenon.
The creation of the Regional Economic Area, a decision taken at the Trieste summit, is seen as an opportunity to create new jobs and bring economic growth, but reducing this way further exodus of qualified youth in Western Balkan.
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