Balkan States Agree Economic Crisis Over, Recovery Slow

Following a working lunch attended by the prime ministers of Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania on the sidelines of the annual European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting being held in Zagreb, Serbia's Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that they agreed that the recovery will be slower then previously expected.

"It is estimated that the crisis could have some repercussions on the speed of European integration, and  therefore, it was agreed that all countries, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and  Development will continue to fight, and to accelerate the process of the integration of the entire Western Balkans,'' Cvetkovic said.

He said all countries have infrastructure projects in which the EBRD is ready to help, but
countries must primarily insist on increasing economic cooperation in the region.

Serbia’s and Croatia’s prime ministers were also due to meet on Friday, where Croatia’s premier Jadranka Kosor is expected to hand over a Croatian translation of the EU’s so-called “acquis communautaire”. The document will greatly accelerate the translation of EU documents into Serbian.

The meeting between the two heads of government comes after the presidents of both countries met earlier this year, and is seen as a sign of an improvement of relations between the two countries.

Also taking part in the visit, Serbia’s deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic noted that a Croatian parliamentary delegation is due to visit Belgrade in June, adding that any experience regarding EU accession that the Croats can pass onto the Serbia parliament would be useful.

He highlighted cooperation between the two countries, noting that it is vital for the stability of the region.