Kick-off Meeting of EU-Supported Project for the Development of the Common Regional Market
Trieste, Italy | 17–18 March 2026
On 17–18 March 2026 in Trieste, Italy, the Kick-off Meeting of the project “EU support to the WB6 CIF” marked the official start of its new phase.
The meeting brought together representatives from the European Commission, Western Balkans Chambers of Commerce, and the WB6 CIF Secretariat, reaffirming the European Union’s continued support to the WB6 CIF and the broader business community across the Western Balkans.
The European Union has allocated almost 3.3 million EUR to support the WB6 CIF and by itself thousands of SMEs from the Western Balkans region will receive concrete support in the next three years, which will significantly contribute to the intra-regional trade and creation of the Common Reginal Market.
Advancing the Common Regional Market Agenda and WB6 CIF role
During the opening session, Project Manager Jadranka Arizankovska presented the project’s key objectives and expected outcomes, that are aligned with the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2025–2028 (CRM AP 2.0). The action plan consists of a set of measures based on the EU’s four freedoms and if implemented properly, could bring the region closer to the EU Single Market. This project will track the performance of implementation of the CRM AP 2.0 based on the first-hand feedback from the businesses and measure its impact on the economic welfare in the Western Balkans. WB6 CIF will bring its actions closer and present its benefits to the business community throughout the implementation period of the Action Plan.
The project aims to boost intra-regional trade and investments and further strengthen the role of WB6 CIF in supporting regional integration, economic cooperation and competitiveness of the Western Balkans companies. The initiative contributes to building a more competitive, connected, and resilient regional market, by enhancing cooperation between businesses, institutions, and policymakers across the Western Balkans.
Supporting SMEs and Regional Value Chains
Over the implementation period, WB6 CIF will support the Western Balkans business community, particularly SMEs, through:
- further development of the regional supplier development programme
- support for the creation of regional supply chains across the Western Balkans
- addressing key barriers that businesses are facing in the region
- representing business interests in policy and decision-making processes
- improving access to finance and promoting financing mechanisms and providing tailored support to SMEs
- strengthening export capacities and internationalisation potential
- enhancing the capacities of chambers of commerce in key areas for regional cooperation
- Further improvement and development of new digital services which will boost intra-regional cooperation
These actions aim to help SMEs expand beyond national markets, integrate into regional value chains, and increase their competitiveness.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Driving Long-Term Economic Integration
Non-tariff constraints significantly undermine trade growth in the region and key focus of the project will be the removal of those barriers in the Western Balkans and ensuring that the voice of the private sector is reflected in policymaking processes. By boosting regional cooperation, productivity and competitiveness could be the main drivers for acceleration of economic growth in the Western Balkans region.
By facilitating structured dialogue between business community and institutions, WB6 CIF continues to play a central role in shaping a more supportive and responsive business environment, contributing to a more integrated, competitive, and resilient regional economy.
Through continued collaboration with the European Commission and regional partners, WB6 CIF remains committed to strengthening regional economic cooperation, supporting SME growth and development, and improving the business environment across the Western Balkans. These efforts will contribute to creating new opportunities for businesses to access regional and international markets and to advancing the long-term development of the Common Regional Market.
