Kocijanci warns risks from Chinese investments in the Balkans

The European Union (BE) plans to intensify dialogue with the Western Balkan countries in order to explain the benefits these countries may have through financing infrastructure projects on the part of the EU.

The European Union plans to ask the authorities of these countries to pay particular attention to the dedication of partners who help the region meet EU standards.

It has confirmed this for Radio Free Europe, European Union spokeswoman Maja Kocijanciq.

It says the European Union's financing in infrastructure includes grants, which are combined with loans of convenient interest.

This is in contrast to Chinese financing, which comes almost exclusively in the form of loans with considerable financial support. Therefore, governments should be careful that these investments do not place their economy on high debt levels, which could result in control of transfers and strategic resources in the future”, warned spokeswoman Kocijanciq.

It reiterated that the Western Balkans region has a clear European perspective and that part of this process also includes the need to modernise infrastructure in these countries.

European Union officials have said several times that investments in the region should be transparent and in line with the highest standards of public procurement.

Public Procuration, fiscal sustainability and investments are also like obligations stemming from the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which Western Balkan countries have signed with the European Union, so Brussels expects these obligations to be met on the part of these countries.

Full text at REL.