The European Policy Institute (EPI) from Skopje has published a new report titled “Analysis for market integration initiatives between the Western Balkans (WB) and the European Union (EU), beyond the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans”, prepared by Dragana Djurica, European Movement in Serbia(EMinS).
The report identifies concrete opportunities for deeper regional integration, including the expansion of Common Regional Market (CRM) initiatives, utilization of regional investment frameworks, acceleration of the digital and green transitions, and promotion of labour mobility through targeted regulatory and institutional reforms. It particularly emphasizes the need to strengthen governance and institutional capacity in order to reduce disparities and ensure alignment with EU accession priorities.
Beyond the scope of the current Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, the report explores broader pathways for the region’s integration into the EU Single Market – a critical driver of socio-economic convergence with the European Union. It also highlights the key role of civil society organizations in monitoring reforms, promoting inclusiveness, and raising public awareness to ensure transparency and legitimacy throughout the integration process.
This report was developed within the project “Pathways to EU Integration: Advancing the dialogue on the Growth Plan for the WB”, implemented by the European Policy Institute (EPI), in partnership with members of the Think for Europe Network (TEN), and supported by the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.
The full report is available on the website of the European Policy Institute (EPI):
Short version: https://epi.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/MarketIntegrationWB_short_v1.pdf
Extended version: https://epi.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/MarketIntegrationWB_v1.pdf
