The Albanian prime minister Eddie Rama stated today that an enhanced Free Trade Agreement of Central Europe (CEFTA) for the Western Balkans region is possible as his country begins accession negotiations with the EU on October 15.

“Tomorrow it will be important to … fix the CEFTA mechanism,” he said in an interview ahead of the summit on Western Balkans which will be hosted in Germany tomorrow Monday by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Soltz will talk to leaders from AlbaniaBosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia in the tenth of the so-called Berlin Process negotiations launched in 2014 to integrate the region into more EU-compliant policies.

The German foreign minister Analena Burbok gathered counterparts from the six countries last week and made progress toward bridging rifts between Serbia and Kosovo, he told X.

As well as making it easier to move people, goods and services, Burbok highlighted the prospect of strengthening travel arrangements for young people and better recognition of professional qualifications.

The EU’s aim is to bring more stability to a region still under tension after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

The European bloc also wants to prevent Moscow from gaining access to the region by causing problems in the south-east of the Union.

On immigration, Rama, who said he plans to run for a fourth term in 2025, said Albania had reached an agreement with Italy to host refugees arriving there in reception centers to help curb irregular immigration. in the EU.

Asked if such an agreement was also possible with Germany, he said there was currently not enough capacity.

“Germany needs to find another partner,” he said.