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Express  (12 February 2020)

Belgrade officials circulated last week a draft of the deal on regional cooperation initiative dubbed as “Mini-Schengen.” TV 21 quoting diplomatic sources reports the document is already in the hands of some embassies, and that “there is no negative reaction to the ‘draft'”

Following meetings between Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic, Albanian prime minister Edi Rama and North Macedonia prime minister Zoran Zaev, the Serbian government has prepared the first draft for co-operation between the three states in the field of trade and commerce. Diplomatic sources in Pristina told TV 21 that “the draft is already in the hands of some embassies”, and that “there is no negative reaction to the ‘draft'”TV 21 was given access to the draft (English version, which reportedly is in three languages) that the Serbian government is expected to submit to Tirana and Skopje soon. The “parties”, as the draft memorandum describes Albania, Serbia and Macedonia, aim at removing all obstacles to the “progressive growth” of trade. Kosovo is not mentioned in the draft.Pristina has reacted strongly to Tirana for engaging in such relations with Serbia, since Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo as a state, nor its borders. Kosovo leaders have boycotted meetings held in Tirana and Skopje.

The draft outlines simplified procedures for “cross-border” co-operation, including the exchange of information and data from specialized offices for food, veterinary and phytosanitary. Serbia, through this draft, foresees that Tirana and Skopje, in addition to trade, will also cooperate and “exchange classified information by border authorities”, including customs.

https://www.gazetaexpress.com/serbia-drafts-agreement-on-balkans-mini-schengen/