Matijević, Andrea (2023) REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: WAYS FORWARD AND THE KEY CHALLENGES (resume). In: 17. sabor politikologa, 21-22. oktobar 2023., Beograd.

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of regional economic cooperation initiatives in the Western Balkans, including the analysis of CEFTA 2006, the Berlin Process, and the “Mini Schengen”, i.e. the “Open Balkan” initiative. The paper will also highlight the significance of these initiatives and their importance for the economies in the respective region. The European Union has encouraged regional economic cooperation in the Western Balkans and these initiatives are considered as instruments to improve regional cooperation in general, which is a prerequisite for the region's membership in the EU. Apart from the prospects of EU membership, the author will argue that the benefits of regional economic cooperation are that it can reduce tensions in the turbulent region and also bring tangible economic benefits to the participating economies. However, the overall regional economic cooperation and the development of regional economic integrations should not be motivated by short-term political interests and politically advantageous dimensions of the cooperation, but by the prospect of the future and a belief in the intrinsic values of regional economic cooperation itself. The author will argue that precisely these political interests and the lack of awareness of the importance of regional economic cooperation itself are the main challenges, on which the overall development of regional economic cooperation depends.

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