The Heads of Governments of the Western Balkans Six signed one more agreement under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan’s mobility agenda, a process facilitated by the RCC – on the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, and midwives – at the Berlin Process Summit held in Tirana on 16 October.

The signing of the Agreement comes a year after the leaders signed 3 CRM mobility agreements at the Berlin Process Summit held in German capital last year. For the 3 agreements – on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects – only 4 out of 6 WB economies finished the internal ratification procedures.

The participants of the Summit warmly welcomed the entry into force of the reduced data roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans and commended the RCC for its coordinating role in implementation CRM. They emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans highlighting the importance of strengthening connectivity, transport, trade, energy and digital ties in the region as well as between the region and the EU. The leaders noted that further significant progress should be made in implementing the CRM and called upon RCC, CEFTA and other regional organisations to start devising the next phase.

With the signing of the additional mobility agreement one more obstacle to free flow of work force is removed and now 7 professions in total can have automatic recognition of qualifications: doctors of medicine, dentists and architects, nurses, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, and midwives – which improves labour market access and increases productivity.   The Agreement signed by the WB leaders in Tirana today will have to be ratified by national authorities of all WB6 and it enters into force on the thirtieth day upon deposition of the third formal notice of ratification.

The host of the next Leaders’ Summit in 2024, on the 10th anniversary of the Berlin Process, will be Germany.