SANECA – Discussion table on national and regional perspectives on access to market services and freedom to offer services, 13 April 2022

On 13 April 2022, a discussion table was held on national and regional perspectives on market access and freedom to offer services. This activity was organised in the framework of SANECA project – Component of Involvement of the Civil Society, organised by GIZ and European Movement Albania (EMA). The activity was organised in a hybrid format, with physical participation at Xheko Imperial Hotel and online on the ZOOM platform.

The activity was welcomed by Gledis Gjipali, Executive Director of European Movement Albania (EMA) who highlighted the necessity for such training activities for interest groups that are directly affected by the legal changes in the framework of European Integration.  

Holta Ymeri, national expert for cases related to the chapter 3 of EU Acquis, explained the EU Services Directive. This directive isn’t implemented in cases where different aspects are covered by other directives that treat the issues in more details. Moreover, she brought into attention the criteria that may be discriminatory or restrictive to those itnerested to offer services, by giving examples for each of them and highlighting the fact that, if those criteria are included in national legislation, then they must be removed. As is the case of foreigners, where not long ago, there was the requirement for having  permission to work even for European citizens. This requirement has been removed from Albanian law. . In the conclusion of her presentation, Ymeri talked about the impact of liberalisation services, bringing recommendations such as: studying the markets of European countries; growing capacities and standards in order to be able to compete with other European country markets. To participants of interest was to know more for the prohibitions criteria it mentioned the experience of other countries like the case of  Czech  Republic.  

In continuation of this meeting, the regional expert Mamiclo Radulovic, President of European Movement in Montenegro, provided an overview of market services in the Western Balkans and the process of regional market liberalisation. The purpose of the Common Regional Market, known briefly as CRM is in base of Copenhagen criteria, with focus on regional collaboration, without which there is no integration for the Balkan region. It was the Berlin process that led forward this idea and formalised and shaped it  with agreements and tangible initiatives. The purpose is to create a space with rules and standards that make possible the four freedoms of market  and the government coordination of WB6 and this will take place in parallel with the integration process of WB in the EU. CRM covers the main areas: Regional Trade Area (four freedoms of Movement); Regional Investment Area; Regional Digital Area; Regional Industrial and Innovation Area. . Within the CRM, according to Radulovic there have been positive developments, such as: Zero Roaming for the entire Balkan Region; the increase of investments and the new creation of multilateral investment plans affecting two or more regional countries; the promotion of SME and more sustainable ways of doing business.    

Some challenges and setbacks are noticed as well. uch as the non-recognition of professional qualifications and diplomas between WB countries, but also the lack of cooperation between the universities of the region. It is noticed that universities in the region are more likely to have collaboration and common projects with universities from EU while the commonthe projects between WB universities are missing. Another problem is related to the lack of coordination between business expectations and goals, and political will and its actions. Business across the region is more inclined and flexible in removing barriers and financial burdens while politics seem less willing to make this a reality.

The word was taken by Laureta Spahiu, SANECA / GIZ project advisor, who spoke about the gender impact assessment in the negotiations and explained the necessity to create such an impact. Furthermore, she focused on the gender access points for the chapters covered by the project – Chapters 1, 3, 20 and 28. Spahiu spoke about each of these chapters and how can be enabled policies and measures in these areas to include women and girls in order for them to access better the services such as health (chapter 28) or industrial policies (chapter 20). The policies should promote and improve the regulatory framework and should remove the identified  barriers for this target group. She further focused on the policy outcomes of these chapters, such as: the existence of significant gaps in addressing gender inequality issues and the poor application of gender integration and mainstreaming.