Pekka Orpana , Finland's Ambassador to Serbia – make your own cooperation model

(Pekka Orpana)

After centuries of mutual rules, alliances and rivalties, Nordic countries have become close cooperators and good neighbours. The Nordic cooperation as we know it today started ove 50 years ago with very pragmatic but very important issues, such as passport free travel and free labor market, that we were all able to agree upon at that they have very sophisticated institutional structures between governments and parliaments. Even more important is that businesses and civil society are very integrate and connected.

In the glory of a friendship between people of Northern Europe, which lasts for two centuries, four Nordic Embassies: Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish, together with non-residential Ambassador of Ireland in Serbia, have celebrated the Nordic Day in Belgrade last week.

On this occasion, eKapija interviewed Pekka Orpan, Ambassador of Finland in Serbia, about the fact how important neighbouring cooperation is, politically and economically efficient and how the Nordic cooperation model could apply to ex-Yugoslav countries

eKapija: It was told that Balkans countries shouldn`t copy some other model for their cooperation, but to find the one which was the best for them. What kind of model is the best for Balkans countries cooperation, in your opinion?

- It is useful to have a look at the achievements and structures of different regional cooperation models in Europe but not to try to copy directly any one of them. I think that the most important thing is to try to identify very concrete and pragmatic areas where cooperation would be benefitial to all. Later on it could be useful to create more institutional structures for the cooperation but avoiding too heavy or expensive ones. In the end, the Balkan countries themselves know best what is the best form of cooperation for them.

eKapija: In this kind of cooperation, every country should keep their own values, but also find some values that all of them share. What are some of those values for Balkans countries?

- Every Balkan country is either already a member of the European Union or in the process of integration to the European Union. Some countries, like Serbia and Montenegro, are more advanced in the integration process, but all should share the same core values of the European Union. That is human dignity, freedom, equality, democracy, rule of law and respect of human rights. I do not see what kind of different values the Balkan countries could have preventing regional cooperation.

eKapija: Is the cooperation of Balkans countries one of the conditions on their way to the EU, or is cooperation important itself ?

- The strengthening of regional cooperation and bilateral relations in the region are also part of the EU integration process requirements but the cooperation is also important itself. Most probably Serbia and Montenegro will join the EU before other Western Balkan countries. Nevertheless, regional cooperation should not be hindered by the fact that countries are in different phases of the process. Nordic cooperation is a good example as three out of five of us are members of the EU and two are not.

eKapija: Do you think the fact that some countries in the Balkan are part of the EU and others are not could influence their cooperation, and how much?

- It does influence the cooperation to some extend but as I said, Nordic cooperation is a good example that it is possible to have very extensive regional cooperation even when some belong to the EU and some do not.

eKapija: Trust is very important and cooperation should satisfy the interest of every country in the Balkans, but what is the best way for a country to remain devoted to their own interests and the interests of the region at the same time?

- It is true that every country has it`s own interests which might not be the same as other countries` interests in the region. But on the other hand sometimes national interests can be defended more efficiently through regional cooperation.

It is easiest to start cooperation in areas where the interests clearly meet. In more advance stage of regional cooperation one can go much deeper when there is a common acknowledgement that compromising in national interest for the sake of cooperation one can actually get much more benefits than just stricktly guarding national interests. This is actually what the European Union is about. Especially for small countries it is very risky to isolate behind national narrow interests in the globalizing world. It is very difficult to be competitive alone.

eKapija: In your experience, how do foreign investors view this region? I suppose that if they see the whole of the Balkans as a single market, it would be much more easier for them to decide to invest here?

- We have seen in just a couple of months, after Serbia started EU membership negotiation, a sort of boom of Finnish investments in Serbia. The signs are clear. Serbia is considered as a very interesting investment destination. To those foreign investors which have the regional market as a target, the perspective of the single market of the region is very important factor for desicion making.

eKapija: What economic sectors do you see as having the most potential for the cooperation of Balkans countries?

- I would not single out any sector except perhaps food processing industries and more generally all those companies that foremost focus at this moment in the Balkan market for their sales.

eKapija: Does this regional cooperation require a leader in the form of one outstanding country and which country could satisfy this need in the Balkans?

- It would not be a good idea to try to select a leading country. Regional cooperation has to move forward in an equal footing. Nordic cooperation is a good example where all five of us really feel equal regardless of our size. For example we rotate the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers between the five Nordic countries. This year Iceland has the presidency, next year it will be Denmark.

eKapija: How important are mutual investments for the countries of the Balkans? (for example, Slovenian investments in Serbia, Serbian investments in Croatia etc.)?

- I think cross border investments are very important and welcome as it strengthens the economy of the region as a whole. We have very good experiences of that in the Nordic countries. Many of the larger Nordic companies are results of cross border merges and investments resulting in vibrant operations in all or most Nordic countries and stronger competitiveness globally. For companies it is often easier to start operations in the region with familiar business and investment climate and then move on to global markets.

eKapija:Please, give us some examples of cooperation between Balkan countries which you think are positive?

- Recently there have been very positive developments in the bilateral relations between Balkan countries and the EU integration is moving ahead in most countries of the region. All this is positive which will help the deepening of the regional cooperation which already exists within many organizations such as Regional Cooperation Council. A lot remains to be done but already companies are operating and cooperating across the borders. I think that businesses are the best advocates for regional cooperation and they are the best ones to identify most important sectors of cooperation.

Ivana Bezarevic