Western Balkans will divide over regional market idea
Significance They have backed it with EUR9bn (USD10.5bn) in EU grants to develop cross-border infrastructure. In parallel, academics and think tanks, most recently the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, have been promoting the idea of regional economic integration. Impacts The Commission is promoting deeper regional economic integration as a preparation for the EU single market. The World Bank estimates that eliminating regional customs barriers would save 30 million man-hours a year and save exporters USD3.2bn. Tensions may rise among non-Serb majorities in Bosnia, Kosovo and Montenegro, which have large Serb minority populations.