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Balkans: EU, different entry times, but open doors to all

Commissioner Hahn in Vienna highlights good signals from trade

19 November, 17:44
(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, NOV 19 - EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, attended the press conference to open the Western Balkans summit this morning in Vienna. The enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans "is based on merit and it is therefore unlikely that all six countries will enter at the same time, but the European perspective is for all the six countries," Hahn said.

Commerce and digital are today's main topics on the agenda.

"The regional economic area is a first step towards integration into the European single market", Hahn explained, underlining that "the commercial volume within the region increased slightly from 2016 to 2017", showing "promising" signals. Even more in evidence is "trade between the region and the EU", which "has doubled up to € 46 billion in the last ten years", EU Commissioner added. "It is important to remove the obstacles in the region and to introduce other elements such as infrastructures, digital connectivity, and cooperation in the energy sector", Hahn pointed out.(ANSA).

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