Business in the Balkans: The case for cross-border co-operation
Written by Liz Barrett, 05 July 2002
The logic of the single market should be applied to the Balkans so that the region can achieve peace and economic growth. Yet this requires co-operation among people that in some cases have recently been at war. Political leaders are reluctant to start building bridges, for fear that the public is not ready. But business-people, spurred on by the promise of profits and opportunities, are overcoming prejudices fast. This paper argues that business is already driving the process of building a single market in the Balkans, and that national governments and international organisations should focus on supporting their initiatives.
