Hahn: Western Balkans should become a single economic market

European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn is on a two-day visit to BiH, and today he addressed the Meeting of Western Balkan Prime Ministers.

Hahn said that the EU wants the Western Balkan countries to become a single market, without barriers between countries, and for this market to then integrate with the European Union market.

- Our goal is to remove barriers, create a single market, and ultimately integrate such an economic market into the EU market. We have done this in some other parts of the EU as well – Hahn said in Sarajevo. He added that such a common market will only be possible if the barriers that currently exist between the Western Balkan countries are removed.

- Concrete steps are needed. For example, work needs to be done on reducing roaming costs, but also on other things – Hahn added.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn reminded that the Western Balkan market has about 20 million consumers, and that this market is located in the vicinity of the European Union market, which is its great advantage.

- You are currently competing with each other at the very bottom of the trade rankings, but you should resolve trade issues with joint efforts – Hahn added.

Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić welcomed the prime ministers of the Western Balkan countries in Sarajevo, where a Summit is being held today with the aim of improving regional cooperation, especially on the path to the European Union and stronger economic exchange.

The meeting in the building of the BiH state government in Sarajevo was attended by the prime ministers of Serbia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia and BiH, as well as European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Angelino Alfano, writes Patria.