Conference of Western Balkan States begins in Berlin

BERLIN – The Conference of Western Balkans States, featuring the participation of senior officials from the region, including Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic at the head of a Serbian delegation, started in Berlin on Thursday.

The conference has begun with panels discussing economic issues, and the host welcoming finance and economy ministers from the Western Balkans and businessmen is Germany's Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel.

The panels will discuss issues concerning energy, technology, infrastructure, ways to boost employment, small and medium enterprises, and investments, and Serbia is represented by Finance Minister Dusan Vujovic.

Gabriel reiterated the promises from the EU summit in Thessaloniki concerning the region's European future and he called for more investments in the reagion.

All countries of the Western Balkans have a single European future, but EU accession does not happen automatically, he noted.

It is the result of years of deep reforms, especially in economy, he pointed out, stressing Slovenia as a positive example for the Western Balkan countries.

The nations of the region need more investments to gain long-term momentum, he emphasised, according to a statement from the German Ministry of Economy and Energy.

We focus mostly on strategic areas, like increasing investments and export power, as well as imrpvements in education, he said.

Reliable framework requirements and an efficient energy and transport infrastructure in the region a particularly important in these plans, he remarked.

The focus of the conference is energy supply, which is a very significant issue for the Western Balkans and Europe in...

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