WB6 CIF at the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit 2026: From Commitments to Implementation – Accelerating the Western Balkans’ Economic Convergence with the EU
Sveti Stefan, Montenegro | 22 October 2026
WB6 CIF Secretary General participated in the Berlin Process Leaders Summit in Sveti Stefan, Montenegro, addressing the state of economic convergence with the EU and the frameworks supporting regional economic integration.
The Western Balkans are gradually converging with the European Union, with average GDP per capita reaching 43% of the EU average in 2025. The integration of some of the Western Balkan economies into Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) demonstrates that gradual integration can already deliver tangible benefits for businesses and citizens even before full EU membership. However, the pace of convergence remains insufficient, while incomplete integration with the EU Single Market continues to represent missed opportunities for companies, investors and citizens.
Berlin Process, the EU Growth Plan and the Common Regional Market provide the necessary framework to accelerate this process. However, the central challenge is implementation. Agreements signed, but not ratified. Roadmaps adopted, but not implemented. Commitments made, but not translated into results. The economic consequences of this implementation gap are significant. According to the World Bank, truck drivers in the Western Balkans spend approximately 26 million hours annually waiting at border crossings across the region, including crossings with the EU. Reducing average waiting times by just three hours could increase GDP in each of our economies by up to 3% over the medium term. Full implementation of last year’s commitment to the Green Lanes Roadmap and the modernisation of 11 priority border crossings with the EU, with the potential to reduce waiting times by up to 70%, could significantly improve the movement of goods, reduce trade costs and strengthen regional competitiveness.
At the same time, the implementation of the EU Entry/Exit System is creating serious operational challenges for professional drivers from our region. We fully recognise the importance of border security and the objectives of the Schengen system. Yet we must also consider the impact on European supply chains. Around 50% of goods transported from the Western Balkans are carried by road. Some European manufacturers depend on components produced in the Western Balkans, and disruptions to transport affect not only our economies and the domestic and European companies operating in our region, but also industrial production within the European Union. To make doing business genuinely easier, we must address these challenges simultaneously: accelerate the agreed improvements at border crossings and develop a coordinated, mutually beneficial, long-term solution for professional drivers and the companies that depend on road freight transport.
The economic potential is substantial. A study currently being developed by WB6 CIF estimates around USD 20 billion in unrealised export potential from the Western Balkans to the EU alone, highlighting the scale of opportunities that deeper economic integration could unlock.
In our recent dialogue with leading Western Balkan companies, businesses called for more consistent and simplified customs procedures, particularly for SMEs, continuity of freight transport and faster border clearance for verified operators. They also identified the need for sustainable arrangements for professional drivers, stronger agricultural value chains and more accessible financing, the application of the once-only principle to administrative procedures, better data exchange and closer sector-specific cooperation. Our recent assessment of the Common Regional Market confirms the gap between political commitments and business experience.
The economic potential is substantial. Our recent study identifies almost 20 billion US dollars in unrealised export potential from the Western Balkans to the EU alone. If joining SEPA can reduce the cost of cross-border payments, deeper integration in the free movement of goods, transport networks, energy markets and digital systems could generate economic benefits on a much larger scale, particularly when supported by domestic policies that strengthen export competitiveness. The benefits would extend beyond exports. Our region already offers opportunities for European investors, but greater regulatory consistency across the six economies would make it considerably easier to operate across multiple markets, without having to navigate different administrative requirements in each one. Together, these improvements would contribute to economic convergence and, ultimately, to the well-being of our citizens.
The Berlin Process, the Common Regional Market and the EU Growth Plan have provided us with the framework for deeper regional cooperation and gradual integration into the EU Single Market. What we need now is to ensure their full implementation – not just adoption. Agreements that have been signed must now be ratified and put into practice. Roadmaps that have been adopted must be implemented at an accelerated pace. And commitments made at the political level must be translated into concrete action at every level. This is how we can accelerate economic and social convergence, strengthen the competitiveness of our businesses and ensure that the benefits of European integration translate into tangible improvements in the well-being of our citizens.
