REGIONAL COOPERATION AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

PART II:
messages over the past year to the Western Balkan aspirants about when, and even if , they
might expect to become members. The current economic and financial crisis even more
contribute to instability and aggravate the relationships between the countries. In order to
overcome the challenges of the economic recession and with outstanding bilateral issues
affecting regional cooperation, it is in the best interest of South-East Europe not to decrease
its commitment to regional cooperation or stay away from pre-accession reforms.
The presence and efforts of the EU are also essential for keeping stability at its doorstep
and assuring that the region does not regress. Most importantly, the region must assume
and deepen its share of responsibility. The governments of SEE should employ joint and
concerted efforts in facing future challenges, speed up reforms in order to progress on the
EU integration, cooperate on finding solutions to bilateral problems, and engager jointly in
large-scale development projects assisted by IFIs that would remedy consequences of the
economic crisis and give additional incentives to continued reforms.
REFERENCES:
Draft of the Agreement of and Accession to the Central European Free Trade Agreement,
Bucharest, 6yh of April 2006;
Annex 2 and Annex 3 of the Agreement for Modification and Accession to CEFTA, Article
8,and 10;Official Journal of the R.Macedonia, No.59/06
Public Purchases, Article 35, CEFTA Agreement, Official Journal of the Republic of
Macedonia, No.59/06
Jaques Sapir (2009): From financial crisis to turning point, Internationale Politik und
Gesellschaft, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung,I;
Kikerkova I.(2006): “Foreign Trade Exchange of the Republic of Macedonia under
Bilateral Free Trade Agreements” in Regional cooperation in South Eastern Europe,
III Conference in Organization of Tsenov Academy of Economics, Svishtow, Bankia,
Bulgaria,
Kikerkova Irena (2007): CEFTA- Zona na slobodna trgovija na zemjite od Zapaden
Balkan i vlijanieto vrz Republika Makedonija, Goisnik. na Ekonomski fakultet, Vol.42;
Regional Cooperation Council, www.rcc.int
The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2007
www.intracen.org
www.b92.net/eng/insight/opinions
www.ecetrade.typepad.com/rtas/cefta-trg/
The mission of the Republic of Macedonia in Brussels, March 2009.
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