A Billion for the Western Balkans

Deutsche Welle: Mr. Hahn, are there new impulses and positive expectations for the summit in Trieste? Recent months in reports between the Western Balkans and the EU have had numerous difficulties.

Johannes Hahn: I think the summit in Trieste is miraculously prepared by Italian officials. We've been trying to have as many concrete results as possible in this summit. For example, we have arranged for a signature agreement on transportation. This means that the countries of the Western Balkans will link with EU laws that strengthen economic reports and give new impulses to the region. We will adopt a row of projects in the field of transport, respectively, energy, worth about 200m euros, which could ultimately result in investments worth about 540m euros. Here it is very important to create the basis for economic growth in the region and for inter-regional trade, where there is much potential. We think that in the years to come, some 80,000 new jobs will be opened.

These are good news, but where are the most obstacles?

Yes, as always in the region, there are mostly problems with deadlines for implementation. There are many promises, many consents, but implementation of agreements is slower. More commitment is required here. But that's the situation in the region, and that's what we're used to. After all, the goal is to have 20 million people there open up a perspective, ensure stability, and if you want to ensure peace in the region.

Stability, security, economic prosperity, all of these mentioned, but not democracy. Very often, EU projects are being highly strengthened by autocratic structures in the region. What are your arguments against these claims?

When I talk about stability, of course it means strengthening democracy. If people cannot express their free opinion if they are not free in action, then they cannot enjoy those values that Europe makes so unique. That is also why Europe is so attractive even to the Balkan countries, which want one day to join the EU. Economic development is possible only if the rule of law works. That is because nobody will invest money in the region, neither the region's investors nor those from EU countries, if for example. They don't function properly.

Practical projects will be presented at today's summit. Which ones?

We have specifically prepared six traffic projects, both in the field of roads and railways. The railway project, known as “Commander 8”, connecting the East and West from Bulgaria to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It could then continue for Albania. We also have water routes between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. This is primarily about building ports. All of this is important. Or various road construction projects, such as between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. These are crucial investments, but that need to be realised. In the field of transportation, we will provide around 145m euros, which can cause total investments of up to 450m euros. Another project in the field of energy is “Interconector”, a gas transmission line between Serbia and Bulgaria. An investment of about 50m euros.

Economic development, transportation arrangements all sound almost anachronic if we see open-ended conflicts in reports between the countries of the region. How will you solve these big problems?

This is actually the charm of this process, because we say: we want to unite all six Western Balkan countries together, regardless of the level they have achieved in the process of future EU membership. We are currently holding negotiations with Serbia and Montenegro, with the rest of us far away. But with our efforts that these countries, which are surrounded by EU members, we introduce them into EU infrastructure in transport and energy, provide a basis for their introduction into EU structures. In this way, there is also the basis for solving one or the other conflict, or at least developing a perspective that can work in the future.

What are the steps to be taken after the summit?

The agreements must be implemented. I have participated this year in the beginning of two bridge projects, in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, but also in Serbia. Even in the energy sector, we have financed several projects that should connect Montenegro with Italy, but also Montenegro through Balkan countries with Romania. Something very concrete is going to happen here in Trieste: it's about helping small and medium-sized enterprises. Under the summit, an agreement on sharing a 48m-euro budget would be signed, which could be earmarked as loans to about 6,000 enterprises. So we're dealing with very concrete projects that should help economic development. We will certainly prepare concrete projects for the next summit as well. Because by the end of this decade we want to share about one billion euros, to achieve something in this region...

...for these countries to enter the EU?

...for these countries to prepare for an easy transition to the EU.

Johannes Hahn is from 2014, EU Commissioner for Economic Policy and Negotia for Enlargement. / DW