BALKANS – Boosting connections on the road to the EU – SESSION II

The EU has pledged to continue membership negotiations with countries in the Western Balkans. But the region faces many challenges, including lack of progress in restructuring the economic model to ensure that all countries are functioning market economies driven by export and investments rather than import and consumption. Improving connectivity in the Western Balkans is also a key factor, not only in boosting economic growth and fostering job opportunities for youth but also in forging better neighbourly relations with the EU, despite the perils of radicalisation. Is the long road to membership a vision or a reality? With some of the Balkans’ top politicians and decision-makers in attendance, we debated ways of further re-energising the region’s myriad connections with the EU at a 'European Policy Summit' event on 7 December 2016 in Brussels. SESSION II - Attracting business and investments by boosting regional connectivity Increased connectivity, especially in the transport and energy sectors, will help the Western Balkans to attract more investments, thereby boosting the region’s economic growth and capacity to create jobs. Better connectivity can also help forge good neighbourly relations among countries in the region and ensure stronger connections with the EU. The EU has set aside up to €1 billion for connectivity investment projects and technical assistance for the 2014-2020 period, with special attention given to transport networks, regional energy efficiency and green growth. Chinese, Turkish and other foreign investors are also putting their money on connectivity projects. Boosting connections is not just about hard infrastructure, however. It also requires “soft” reform measures to open markets, create a transparent regulatory framework that builds investor confidence, and the removal of barriers. While the focus is very much on hard connectivity, are countries in the region implementing the “soft” reform and improved economic governance measures required to create real intra-regional connections in the region and is digital connectivity getting enough attention? What progress is being made to reduce income and labour market inequalities across the region and how does the inequality challenge impact on investment plans? Are countries moving fast enough to ensure respect for the rule of law and in fighting organised crime and corruption? Marta Arsovska Tomovska, Minister of Information Society and Administration, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Tanja Fajon, Member of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Kosovo¹ and Trustee of Friends of Europe Damian Gjiknuri, Minister of Energy and Industry, Albania Ismir Jusko, Minister of Communication and Transport at the Council of Ministers, Bosnia and Herzegovina Zana Tabaku, Chief Executive Officer of Appdec, an application development center