2017 Western Balkans Summit, Trieste
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The 2017 Western Balkans Summit in Trieste, Italy was the fourth annual
summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...
within the
Berlin Process The Berlin Process is an intergovernmental cooperation initiative linked to the future enlargement of the European Union. History The Berlin Process started with the 2014 Berlin Conference, which was followed by the 2015 Vienna Summit, the ...
initiative for
European integration European integration is the process of political, legal, social, regional and economic integration of states wholly or partially in Europe, or nearby. European integration has primarily but not exclusively come about through the European Union ...
of
Western Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...
states. Previous summits took place in Berlin in 2014, Vienna in 2015 and in Paris in 2016.
Heads of government In the executive branch, the head of government is the highest or the second-highest official of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a ...
, foreign ministers and the ministers of economy of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, as well as EU member states from the region Croatia, Slovenia and EU member states Austria, France, Germany, Italy as well as representatives of the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
and the
International Financial Institutions An international financial institution (IFI) is a financial institution that has been established (or chartered) by more than one country, and hence is subject to international law. Its owners or shareholders are generally national governments, alt ...
attended. Participants once again committed the Western Balkan's eventual path into the EU and agreed the next Berlin Process Summit would take place in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.


Agenda

Issues discussed during the summit included laying the foundations for a common Balkan market, increasing regional cooperation, improving and expanding infrastructure and energy services, curbing migration, and fighting corruption, terrorism, and radicalism. Plans drawn up during the summit included a Connectivity Agenda, a regional economic integration plan, private sector development, and expanding people-to-people contacts. Investments totaling greater than 500 million euros from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development were agreed upon by the participants. The talks of Germany and the EU funding infrastructure and rebuilding less-developed areas in the region has been compared to The Marshall Plan, being dubbed ''The Balkan Marshall Plan''.


Connectivity

Infrastructure is slated to be harmonized and built with EU regulations within the region, alongside repairs and updates to existing infrastructure.


Regional Economic Integration

The foundations for a common Balkan market were agreed upon. The summit leaders decided to focus on mostly investing in start-ups and scale-ups. The region also started on the path to integration within the pan-European digital market. To help facilitate this process, the Chamber Investment Forum of the Western Balkans was created. Johannes Hahn stated the economic integration and lowering of tariffs could produce up to 80,000 jobs.


People-to-People Contacts

Balkan and EU leaders agreed to extend the Erasmus Exchange Programme to the Balkans as well as organising an EU-Western Balkans Youth Forum.


References


See also

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Berlin Process The Berlin Process is an intergovernmental cooperation initiative linked to the future enlargement of the European Union. History The Berlin Process started with the 2014 Berlin Conference, which was followed by the 2015 Vienna Summit, the ...
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Southeast Europe Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a geographical sub-region of Europe, consisting primarily of the region of the Balkans, as well as adjacent regions and Archipelago, archipelagos. There are overlapping and conflicting definitions of t ...
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Stabilisation and Association Process In talks with countries that have expressed a wish to join the European Union, the EU typically concludes Association Agreements in exchange for commitments to political, economic, trade, or human rights reform in that country. In exchange, th ...
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Central European Free Trade Agreement The Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) is an international trade agreement between countries mostly located in Southeastern Europe. Founded by representatives of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, CEFTA in 2006 expanded to Albania, Bo ...
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Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe The Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999 to 2008. It was replaced by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) ...
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Southeast Europe Transport Community The Transport Community is an international organisation in the field of mobility and transport, consisting of 36 participants. The participants are the European Union (EU) member states (represented by the European Commission); the non-EU countri ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Western Balkans Summit, 2017 2017 in politics Diplomatic conferences in Italy 21st-century diplomatic conferences 2017 in international relations 2017 conferences Foreign relations of Croatia Foreign relations of Albania Foreign relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina Foreign relations of Kosovo Foreign relations of North Macedonia Foreign relations of Montenegro Foreign relations of Serbia Foreign relations of Slovenia International relations in Southeastern Europe Enlargement of the European Union July 2017 in Italy