European Union Western Balkans Trade Relations Exports

Course summary European Union - Western Balkans Trade Relations:

The Western Balkans countries are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

The European Union relations with the Balkans are governed by the Stabilisation and Association process.

Trade plays an important role in the EU's efforts to promote peace, stability, freedom and economic prosperity in the Western Balkans. 2009 trade figures:
- EU goods exports to the Balkans: €25,5 billion
- EU goods imports from the Balkans: €11,2 billion
- EU investment in the Balkans (2008): €3,8 billion

The EU's main objective for the Western Balkans region (South East Europe) is to create a situation where military conflict is unthinkable – expanding to the region the area of peace, stability, prosperity and freedom, established over the last fifty years in the European Union. The countries of Western Balkans have all been given the prospect of EU membership.

In December 2007, the European Council reaffirmed that "the future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union".

South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in May 2007, was largely completed in February 2008. The new framework operates under the political guidance of the SEECP and includes the newly established Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Its Secretary-General has been appointed and the Sarajevo-based Secretariat started operations in January 2008.

All the Western Balkan countries have been offered Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) and have a clear EU perspective. The EU's strategy includes massive financial assistance, making it by far the largest donor to the region.

The Commission will continue providing technical and financial assistance to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA)

Example of the course European Union - Western Balkans Trade Relations:

Population of Western Balkans region:
- Albania: 3,639,453
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: 4,613,414
- Bulgaria: 7,351,234
- Croatia: 4,489,409
- Macedonia: 2,048,619
- Montenegro: 620,145
- Serbia: 7,334,935
- Kosovo: 2,180,686

The region's principal religions are Christianity (Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic) and Islam.