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Argument: Bosnia and Herzegovina EU membership will strengthen trade/economy
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"Prime Minister expresses support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU and NATO membership". MTI Econews. 12 June 2008. - Mr Gyurcsany signed a declaration of support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU accession following his meeting with Mr Spiric. Mr Gyurcsany said that Hungarian investors are primarily interested in telecommunications, energy and tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, adding that Hungary is also planning to participate in the development of both road and railway infrastructure in the country. Mr Gyurcsany added that customs duties imposed on imports between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be cancelled in a couple of weeks.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is to sign a trade-and-aid agreement with the EU on June 16, making it the final country in the region to establish a contractual relationship with the 27-nation union. The Stabilization and Association Agreement is seen as a stepping stone toward eventual EU membership.
Mr Spiric said he hoped that economic relations between Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina will strengthen after the agreement is signed.
Mr Gyurcsany said that support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the European Union is not in Hungary's unilateral interest, since Bosnia and Herzegovina needs the Europe and Europe needs a peaceful and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Deepening Regional and EU Integration across Western Balkans will Boost Economic Growth". World Bank. 16 July 2008 - The report emphasizes that exports are critical for growth in the small countries of the Western Balkans; in turn, foreign direct investment is crucial for exports..
To attract more foreign investment and sustain export-led growth, the report suggests that national governments should strengthen regional integration, so that effective market size is increased. At the national level, the report calls for countries to consider re-ordering policy priorities to give greater attention to further developing human capital and improving productivity; reducing telecommunication costs; and preventing possible energy shortages. Such actions should help accelerate the eventual integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU.
The recommendations related to labor competitiveness are especially relevant for Bosnia and Herzegovina as wages in this country are on average significantly higher than those in the wider region. In order to maintain and enhance labor competitiveness, BiH will need to lower social contribution rates, contain wage growth in the public sector, and reinforce investment in skill development by improving the quality of education and vocational training. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, July 16, 2008 – Countries in the Western Balkans should deepen regional and EU integration, further develop human capital and reduce telecommunication costs in order to sustain economic growth, says a new regional World Bank report presented today in Sarajevo.
“The objective of the study was to analyze possible binding constraints if growth were to accelerate and be led by the private sector to a much greater extent than is currently the case in the region,” said Sanjay Kathuria, World Bank Lead Economist and lead author of the report during the presentation, which was attended by representatives of the state and entity governments and agencies, academia and civil society.
The report “Western Balkans Integration and the EU: an Agenda for Trade and Growth”, takes a look at long-term growth issues, including trade performance, regional integration, and the investment climate in the different countries of the region, which are at different stages of accession to the EU.
The last decade, especially the last five years, was relatively good for the Western Balkan countries, according to the study. However, they now need to improve and then sustain growth performance to accelerate poverty reduction and convergence with the EU, even as the external environment becomes more challenging.
The report emphasizes that exports are critical for growth in the small countries of the Western Balkans; in turn, foreign direct investment is crucial for exports."
