Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • World
  • Mid-East
  • Europe
  • Americas
  • Asia Pacific
  • Africa
  • Syrian Crisis
  • Islamophobia

EU urges Western Balkans to create a single economic area

by ASSOCIATED PRESS

PRISTINA, Kosovo Oct 08, 2020 - 11:09 pm GMT+3
European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi (L) shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) after their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 8, 2020. (EPA Photo)
European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi (L) shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) after their meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 8, 2020. (EPA Photo)
by ASSOCIATED PRESS Oct 08, 2020 11:09 pm
RECOMMENDED
Local residents stand on an embankment of the Dnipro river which flooded after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached as smoke billows after shelling on the opposite bank, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine, June 6, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Thousands evacuated, many more at risk in Ukraine dam crisis: UN

Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine

The European Union's enlargement commissioner on Thursday urged the countries of the Western Balkans to create a single economic area to better feel the benefits of the bloc’s investment plans.

Oliver Varhelyi was in Kosovo as part of a tour of the Balkans. He urged Kosovo to "speed up the reforms because these investments go hand in hand with the reform efforts."

The EU this week approved a 9 billion-euro ($10.58 billion) package of grants for the Western Balkan countries through 2027.

Varhelyi said they are "in coordination with our international financial institution partners to create an additional 20 billion euros ($23.5 billion) in guarantees for the region."

The sum would amount to a third of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP), and the EU expects it to boost the economy by 3% to 4%.

"It is crucial to have a single economic area in the Balkans, because these investments will only bring the benefits if these investments work regionally," Varhelyi said at a news conference with Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti.

"The economic investment plan can be a game-changer for the region. It can change significantly the landscape of this region within four to five years," he said.

The bloc wants to see further progress on issues relating to the rule of law, corruption, judiciary reform and better public administration.

Western Balkan countries are at different stages of EU membership: Serbia and Montenegro have already started negotiating some chapters of the final deal, while Albania and North Macedonia have been given the green light to start talks. Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina have signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement, the first step in the path to membership.

Varhelyi said he saw progress in the Kosovo-Serbia talks on normalizing their ties and welcomed the United States renewed interest in the process.

He said many of the EU plans and those of the U.S. converged.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has been working to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo and in September Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti signed a deal at the White House that aims to normalize economic relations.

Later Thursday, Varhelyi visited the Serbian capital of Belgrade where he said that the EU wants to see the region – where China and Russia are also vying for influence – move closer to the bloc. Varhelyi expressed hope the new Serbian government, which is about to be formed following June 21 elections, will push the reform process forward.

Serbia's populist President Vucic hailed the announced investment projects but rejected most of the EU criticism in a report about the pace of democratic reform.

RECOMMENDED
Local residents stand on an embankment of the Dnipro river which flooded after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached as smoke billows after shelling on the opposite bank, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kherson, Ukraine, June 6, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Thousands evacuated, many more at risk in Ukraine dam crisis: UN

Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine
  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    european union western balkans economy kosovo
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Through ground-penetrating radar scans conducted underneath Zerzevan Castle in Diyarbakır, massive structures belonging to Rome's 3,000-year-old garrison were detected, Diyarbakır, Türkiye, June 5, 2023. (IHA Photo)

    Ancient Roman garrison unearthed at Zerzevan Castle in Türkiye

    ZERZEVAN-CASTLE
    Russian-flagged Ro-Ro ship Lady R transits Bosporus in Istanbul, Türkiye, April 27, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

    Turkish exporters hope to clinch record of over $267B in annual sales

    foreign-trade

    Hakan Fidan: The chief diplomat of Türkiye

    HAKAN-FIDAN

    Türkiye's new foreign minister reiterates 'national vision'

    HAKAN-FİDAN
    Rescuers hunt for survivors after cyclone hits Indonesia
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021