(ANSA) - BELGRADE, NOV 4 - The 'Open Balkan' initiative launched by Serbia, Albania, and Northern Macedonia is not "an alternative" to joining the EU. Still, it is complementary and functional to the objective of full membership in the Union.

That is the outcome of today's trilateral summit in Belgrade, which took stock of the progress of the project that aims to strengthen regional cooperation by promoting the creation of a single market in the Western Balkans, making the region more attractive for investments and more competitive within global market and economy.

Speaking at the joint press conference at the end of today's meeting in Belgrade with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Macedonian Vice-Premier Nikola Dimitrov, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reiterated the validity of this initiative.

The project, he said, is open to other countries in the region, adding at the same time the need to specify when and how the agreed rules will apply. To this end, he said, the stakeholders will create an "ad hoc body." It will be responsible for solving the problems when they arise and contact the various customs services and agencies of phytosanitary controls to streamline procedures at the borders. (ANSA).