At the fourth Western Balkans summit of the Berlin Process, leaders today will support the 20 million-strong Balkans market creation project.

On 12 July 2017, Italy has host the fourth Western Balkans summit of the Berlin Process in Trieste, a city that symbolically links the EU and the Western Balkans. Several EU Member States and the six of region countries are reviewing current progress and are discussing a broad agenda with a view to furthering regional cooper and deepening economic integration. This summit is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. The summit includes the participation of representatives of six Balkan governments – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and the EU member states, including Italy. Among the central themes of the summit are europian enlargement, security and rule of law, the strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperation in the fight against corruption. At the Trieste Summit, the first technical level issues were discussed among representatives from the respective participating countries. During his speech, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, stressed that the Regional Economic Zone, a term that refers to the idea of creating a common Balkan market. Hahn said that leaders today will support the 20 million-strong Balkans market creation project. According to Hahn, this project will create value as well as allow freely transfer of goods and services. The EU Commissioner for Enlargement considers the establishment of such an economic zone as an excellent preparation for becoming part of the common European market. Experts mentioned Marshall Plan for Balkan. Now there are also talks about a customs union and a joint market between the six countries. A few months ago there were talks about a “Berlin Plus” plan, a German initiative to fund large infrastructure projects with EU money. During the business forum, the parties also signed a joint statement confirming the will of the parties to continue the work in this regard. Currently there is growing skepticism regarding enlargement Even today few individuals belives in this promise even mention the word "enlargement", because accession seems far, since reforms are not being implemented and the EU has its own internal problems. The voices against enlargement are always stronger, that’s why Brussels needs to offer a realistic perspective, Eric Gordy, from the London University College says. Gordy is skeptical of the changes as soon as given the unwillingness of Balkan elites to readily give up power. The disagreements of Prishtina with Belgrade and the problems between Macedonia and Greece, due to the name, and also the lack of consensus in Bosnia between the three ethnic groups, have made experts to think that Balkan will be forever at the waiting. Only Montenegro and Serbia are in talks with the EU about accession. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are not even official candidates. Tomorrow this summit in Trieste will focus most heavily on financial programs, akin to a Marshall Plan for the Balkans. For Balkan inhabitants, waiting in Europe's wings means a hard fight to survive, given the region's high unemployment and low income.