WASHINGTON, 13 March (Hina) - The World Bank on Monday released a report outlining a comprehensive approach to regional development and integration in South Eastern Europe, it was reported in Washington. The report bears the title
"The Road to Stability and Prosperity in South Eastern Europe" and World Bank officials say it will be officially presented at the upcoming international donors' conference in Brussels. "This report sets the framework for the collaborative effort required by the countries of South Eastern Europe and by the international community to achieve our mutual goals of peace and prosperity, and a reduction of poverty for all people in the region," said Johannes Linn, Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia Region. The World Bank believes that there are several core elements for achieving those goals, the first one being "moving rapidly towards trade integration with the EU and within
WASHINGTON, 13 March (Hina) - The World Bank on Monday released a
report outlining a comprehensive approach to regional development
and integration in South Eastern Europe, it was reported in
Washington.
The report bears the title "The Road to Stability and Prosperity in
South Eastern Europe" and World Bank officials say it will be
officially presented at the upcoming international donors'
conference in Brussels.
"This report sets the framework for the collaborative effort
required by the countries of South Eastern Europe and by the
international community to achieve our mutual goals of peace and
prosperity, and a reduction of poverty for all people in the
region," said Johannes Linn, Vice President for the Europe and
Central Asia Region.
The World Bank believes that there are several core elements for
achieving those goals, the first one being "moving rapidly towards
trade integration with the EU and within the South East European
Region itself, and creating a stable, transparent and non-
discriminatory environment for private sector development."
The countries of South Eastern Europe must also secure social
stability, improve institutional capacity and governance
structures, strengthen anti-corruption efforts in the Region; and
invest into regional infrastructure to integrate the region
physically with the rest of Europe.
"The efforts of the countries of the region need to be complemented
by the efforts of the international community to integrate the
countries of South Eastern Europe into European and global
structures and to provide assistance in key areas."
The document also presents data saying about 56 million people in
South Eastern Europe live at about US$2,2000 per capita, which is
roughly half the income level of a group of countries including
Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia.
While the countries of South Eastern Europe are heterogeneous in
their income levels and social and structural development, they
have all shared a legacy of inadequate growth and declining living
standards during the past decade of transition and conflict. As a
region, these countries have recovered only 75 percent of their
pre-transition income levels, the document reads.
The World Bank report was developed in collaboration with the
countries of South Eastern Europe, European Commission, European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Council of Europe.
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