Publication

This article discusses the EU’s free trade and preferential trade agreements in view of the extent to which they deliver improved market access to developing and neighboring countries in Europe. It states that previous preferential trade schemes were ineffective in achieving this aim due to the restrictive rules of origin the EU imposes. The authors conclude that the EU has to reconsider the current rules of origin if it wants free trade agreements with countries in the Balkans which facilitate their access to the EU market.