On 10 and 11 March, key stakeholders gathered for a two-day event to discuss implementing the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2025-2028, aligning it with CEFTA priorities, the Growth Plan Pillar One, and the Green Agenda.  Organized by the Office of the Prime Minister, with support from UNOPS under the Knowledge for Reform Action in the Western Balkans programme—funded by the Government of Norway—the event brought together government representatives and experts to coordinate efforts for deeper economic integration.

The discussions covered CRM2 trade-related actions and their alignment with 2025 CEFTA priorities, including the free movement of goods and services, trade facilitation, and strategies to enhance competitiveness, digital transformation, and human capital development. In addition, the participants also kick-started the discussion on the process of revisioning the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, which is going to take place this year- facilitated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and other regional partners.

Participants also worked on coordinating institutional responsibilities, defining contact points, and ensuring the effective implementation of the CRM Action Plan. This collaborative dialogue marked a significant step toward the successful implementation of regional agendas, which aim to integrate the region into the EU Single Market. 

While reflecting on the event, Mr. Jeton Karaqica, Director in the Office for Economic Criteria and Internal Market, Office of the Prime Minister, emphasized the following: “The two-day workshop contributed to our ongoing efforts to ensure inter-institutional coordination, monitoring, and reporting for the successful implementation of the Common Regional Market. Input from relevant stakeholders was crucial to ensure that CRM2 aligns with CEFTA priorities and the Growth Plan's Pillar 1. Our goal is to achieve tangible results in the CRM, CEFTA, and Growth Plan initiatives, as they bring us closer to integration with the EU Single Market.”

Looking ahead, UNOPS will continue its collaboration with Kosovo aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) Action Plan. This partnership will focus on enhancing Kosovo's capacity for effective coordination, monitoring, and alignment with EU sustainability frameworks, while identifying key strategies for sustainable development in the region.

Stay tuned for further updates on these joint efforts driving regional economic and environmental transformation.

For more information on impact of the K4R programme in Kosovo, you can visit the webpage https://www.knowledge4reformaction.org/virtual-tour/kosovo/