Experts divided over Albania’s agreement for Balkan customs and transportation union

“The integration will have two phases. One is the economic integration among these countries, before they are ready for the EU. This means experiencing the EU itself, something that was done by Scandinavian countries and also in other areas of the world, with positive results”, Civici declared.

Civici said that the project for the joint economic area is a positive development that will boost the other economies of the region. However, Arben Malaj says that Albania’s focus should be EU integration.

“Every cooperation in a Balkan level should be for accelerating the European integration, not as a purpose of its own”, Malaj said.

But will the joint economic area accelerate the Balkan countries’ integration to the EU? Experts seem divided about this.

“I think it is the first step towards European integration and economic convergency to the EU”, Civici says.

“The idea is to get united among ourselves and then within Europe. I think it may create difficulties. The positive dependency that Commissioner Hahn is asking may have other obstacles due to other developments from within Western Balkan countries”, Malaj said.

Western Balkan leaders signed an agreement in Trieste this Wednesday for creating a joint eeconomic area which foresees the establishing of a customs and transportation union.

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