SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFP) — The European Union on Thursday encouraged Western Balkan countries to create a common market which it estimated could create over 80,000 jobs in an area of high unemployment.
“On a very short and medium-term perspective, this could allow.. more than 80,000 jobs in the region,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn told reporters in Sarajevo.
He spoke after a meeting of six Western Balkan countries’ prime ministers — Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, who all aspire to join the bloc.
Hahn hailed the leaders’ initiative to create a regional common market which he said would mean removing “barriers to allow a free flow of trade, services.”
“It’s also a strong contribution in preparation for the further integration towards the EU,” he said.