Balkan Leaders Discuss Energy, Transport at Summit

The Western Balkans Investment Summit in London on Monday brought together the prime ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia with investors to discuss the development of transport links, energy projects and privatisation.

"We are encouraged by the fact that all of the region's economies grew last year. And our economists expect growth to rise further in most Western Balkans countries in 2016, albeit still at levels below their potential," said the EBRD's president, Suma Chakrabarti.

Chakrabarti praised what he called "a reform momentum across the region", with Montenegro advancing along its EU path, Serbia restructuring its public companies, Albania continuing a programme of modernization and Bosnia and Herzegovina starting to implement a reform agenda prepared with the help of the European Commission.

The Balkan prime ministers expressed determination to continue their progress towards the EU.

"I don't agree with [London mayor] Boris Johnson that the EU has become very boring," said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, referring to Johnson's decision to campaign for Britain to vote to leave the EU in a referendum in June.

"Regardless of all challenges, Western Balkans countries believe in a united Europe," added his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic.

The main part of the summit saw Balkan leaders concentrating on major infrastructure and energy investments, including the Nis-Pristina highway and an electricity transmission line between Macedonia and Albania.

"We don't just expect money, we need political support for reforms, education and the creation of a unique market," Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic said.

The vision of integrated market in the Balkans came a...

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