Policy analysis: “European (Re)Connection of the Balkans – The Search for new Modalities of Cooperation””
Foreign Policy Initiative BH, in cooperation with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung BiH and BiH Foreign Trade Chamber organized the presentation of policy analysis “European (Re)Connection of the Balkans – the Search for new Modalities of Cooperation” by Igor Kosić on 25 June 2018. The aim of the analysis was to highlight the importance of the regional cooperation of six Western Balkans countries, on the achievements made so far, but also on the challenges and obstacles which are before them in the European integration process. The analysis of CEFTA as a platform for regional trade integration from the perspective of Bosnia and Herzegovina was followed by the presentation of the Regional Economic Area and the Multi-annual Action Plan.
The new initiatives and funding by the EU present new opportunities to return the focus to structural socioeconomic reforms and analyze obligations stemming from the Multi-annual action plan for the Regional economic area in the area of trade, investments, mobility and digital integration, stated the author of the analysis, Igor Kosić.
The panelists, Adnan Muminović, Economic Advisor with the Office of the EU Special Representative in BiH, Amila Šehić, representative of BiH Foreign Trade Chamber from the Macro-economy Department and Lejla Ramić-Mesihović, FPI BH director in their comments highlighted the experience and preconditions for better regional cooperation and underlined that the removing of non-trade tariffs would increase the growth potential of BiH and the region.
The Vice-President of BiH Foreign Trade Chamber Bruno Bojić addressed the participants and stated that the progress on European integration process is important in order to connect the trade societies, but also that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s trade with the countries of the region is more than 70%.
