EU's engagement with the western Balkans: Focus on the EU's new trade policy

Abstract

This chapter analyzes the EU’s economic and trade relations with the Western Balkans and discusses the declining interest of the EU in the Western Balkans in the last decade and the reasons behind it. Moreover, it demonstrates the volume of the actual EU-Western Balkans trade. Although it seems that the EU politically sidelined the EU accession of the Western Balkans countries, the Balkans region still appears to be important in the EU’s new trade policy. The new EU strategy, which was announced in February 2021, focuses on closer cooperation with regard to the green and digital transitions. The EU plans to modernise its trade and investment relations with the whole world as well as with the Western Balkan countries that are interested in more integration with the European Union. Hence, the green and digital transformation prospect of the EU will move the accession process of Western Balkan countries to a new phase. If Western Balkan countries can adopt, this will further green and digital transformation of the Western Balkans and turn them into more modern, environment-friendly and sustainable economies.