Publication

This paper examines concerns that trade openness in Southeast Europe is less advanced than it was for the former Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) in the mid to late 1990s. It discusses the issue of whether the present network of bilateral trade arrangements put in place under the Stability Pact had much effect for trade integration and whether trade within the region is currently at or below its potential. The paper identifies problematic trade patterns and concludes by proposing an extension of the present customs union with Turkey to include trade with the entire Southeast European zone of countries linked to the EU.