10th Berlin Process Summit
The 10th Berlin Process Summit took place on 14 October 2024 in Berlin, with the participation of the Western Balkans 6 Leaders. It was opened by Federal Chancellor Mr. Olaf Scholz and attended by representatives of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen as well as international and regional bodies, organizations, and financial institutions. Hungary participated as an observer in its capacity as the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Western Balkans 6 Leaders Sign the Declaration on the Common Regional Market 2025-2028
The participants acknowledged the results achieved under the Common Regional Market 2021 – 2024. And as well they commended the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), CEFTA and the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) for their support in the implementation of policy agendas under the CRM. The second phase of the Common Regional Market (2025-2028) was formalized by the Western Balkans 6 leaders at the 10th Berlin Process Summit through the signing of the Declaration on the Common Regional Market 2025-2028.
The Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) has been actively involved in the preparation of the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2025-2028.
Common Regional Market Action Plan 2025-2028 (CRM 2.0) represents a regionally-owned framework based on the EU rules and standards with the objective to consolidate and enhance competitiveness and economic cooperation. With its scope and ambition of going beyond four freedoms provisions, it contributes to the long-term economic growth of the region, supporting its fair, green and digital transition, fostering regional cooperation and convergence with the EU. Serving as a powerful catalyst for growth and attractiveness, the CRM 2.0 seeks to further boost the socio-economic convergence between the region and the EU and paves the way for closer integration with the Single Market. This Action Plan is an integral part of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, aimed at boosting economic growth and increasing socio-economic convergence of the region, bringing it closer to the EU Single Market. In particular, it contributes to its Pillar II: Regional Cooperation, which is an essential element of boosting economic development of the region, already identified in the Action Plan 2020-2024 as a stepping stone to the Single Market.
CRM 2.0 builds on the results of CRM 2021–2024 Action Plan, which has represented the cornerstone and key unifying and by far the most elaborate regional cooperation and integration framework since its endorsement by the WB6 Leaders at the 2020 Berlin Process Sofia Summit.
The successful implementation of CRM2 relies on strong governance, clear communication, and regular monitoring. While the RCC and CEFTA oversee coordination and trade-related actions, WB6 CIF plays a key role by overseeing private sector-led measures. The private sector, through close collaboration with WB6 CIF, is crucial in both the implementation and monitoring of the Action Plan.
The Areas that form the building blocks of the CRM2 center around the following:
- Free Movement of Goods
- Free Movement of Services
- Horizontal Trade Measures
- Human Capital Development
- Business enabling environment and competitiveness
- Digital Transformation
The Western Balkans 6 leaders, by signing the declaration, reaffirmed their dedication to the effective implementation of the CRM Action Plan 2025-2028, supported by the necessary institutional and administrative capacities to ensure greater impact, with the unwavering support from the European Union. Recognizing the important role of regional organizations in the implementation of the CRM Action Plan 2025-2028, they reaffirm their full support for the efforts of the RCC, CEFTA, TCT, WB6 CIF, and other relevant regional partners, which exemplify strong regional ownership.
In the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2025-2028, the Western Balkans 6 Chamber Investment Forum (WB6 CIF) will be a lead organisation for the activities that fall under this priority area: 3- Horizontal Trade Measures; 4-Human Capital Development and 5- Business enabling environment and competitiveness and WB6 CIF will be a supporting organisation in the implementation of the other activities.
