🔴 STARTING NOW | Join Session II of our #BalkansSummit where we discuss how the Western Balkans can help drive growth and boost resilience in Europe - and what potential obstacles impede this trajectory. To shed light on these complex topics, we are delighted to welcome: 🎙️ @DanielssonEU, Swedish State Secretary for EU Affairs (@SweMFA - @SwedeninEU) 🎙️ @dragu_anca, Governor of @BNM_oficial 🎙️ Robert de Groot, Vice-President @EIB 🎙️ @IrenaRadovicMNE, Governor of @Centralnabanka 🎙️ @schaal_andreas, Director of @OECDglobal Relations and Co-operation, and OECD Sherpa to the G7, the G20 and APEC 🗣️ Guiding this discussion is our esteemed Senior Fellow @ValbonaZeneliTo. 👉 Watch live: bit.ly/BalkansSummit25 🧵 Follow this thread for live updates.

💬 Outlining the role played by the @EIB and how it contributes to the accession process in Western Balkan countries, Robert de Groot, Vice-President @EIB says: ❝[O]ur due diligence before we agree to come up with a loan is quite tough and lengthy but once you’ve passed this due diligence, I think we are there in the long-term. And the projects we do might therefore be a bit longer before they take place but I think the end result is much better.❞ #BalkansSummit

Outlining some of the obstacles to increased investments from European companies in the Western Balkans, @DanielssonEU argues: ❝In order to get the economy moving, it’s the same issues we are facing within the EU. [...] It's about seeing to it that the Western Balkan market develops in combination with opening up the possibilities for actors in the Western Balkans to come into the European market. So these are issues that need to be worked on in parallel with [...] what is done within the track of the formal negotiations.❞ #BalkansSummit

🗣️ Joining today's #BalkansSummit, @dragu_anca, Governor of @BNM_oficial outlined how she thinks banks in Western Balkan countries could better attract EU funds: ❝I’m asking banks to be sure that they have at any time, day and night, 10 companies in their portfolios that are able to be financed, to get co-financing, to attract EU funds.❞

🇲🇩 On the potential of central-bank-driven reforms to improve the business climate, attract investment and align with EU standards, @dragu_anca, Governor of @BNM_oficial, points to successes in Moldova: ❝As a result of our activities, [...] we were accepted into SEPA [...] which is not only a huge step ahead in terms of lower costs [...], but also it’s proof that [...] Moldova is aligned to EU standards.❞ #BalkansSummit

🗨️ Addressing the need for reforms aimed at improving the business climate, attract investment and align with EU standards in the Western Balkans, @IrenaRadovicMNE, Governor of @Centralnabanka, says: ❝These reforms are very tangible [but] what is more important is what you feel as a citizen, as a company. Already in terms of direct effects [of joining SEPA], we had over €1.5mn back in the pocket of citizens. It means that in a year’s time [...], you will have gains in the economy that amounts to 2.3% of GDP, which means a sizeable chunk of liquidity remaining in the economy on top of increased competitiveness and safety.❞

🇪🇺 On the need for Europe to not lag behing politically and economically, @IrenaRadovicMNE, Governor of @Centralnabanka argues enlargement is part of the solution: ❝We need to look at Europe’s political and economic role strategically - which is an issue if we’re not economically competitive, and if we’re losing our weight in global circles. I believe that enlargement is a significant part of the solution to the current problem and something that will bring additional value.❞ #BalkansSummit

💬 Speaking at our #BalkansSummit, @schaal_andreas, Director of @OECDglobal Relations and Co-operation, and OECD Sherpa to the G7, the G20 and APEC, shares his insights: ❝It’s not competitiveness for the sake of competitiveness, but it’s competitiveness for the sake of people in the countries in the region. [...] And that’s why we have developed this Scoreboard that tries to address the question: are convergence policies conducive to a better life for the people in the countries?❞

💬 Highlighting how the EU can be more competitive and resilient to outside shocks, Robert de Groot, Vice-President @EIB, stresses: ❝If we want to be more competitive [...], more resilient to outside shocks [...], and if we want to be more autonomous, we certainly have to act. [...] It’s quite clear that we as Europe have to be less naive and move forward on the issue. [W]e are open to doing projects both inside the EU [...] but also close to the EU.❞ #BalkansSummit

🗣️ Pointing to enlargement as one of the key challenges the EU will face in the coming years, @DanielssonEU, Swedish State Secretary for EU Affairs, stresses: ❝We [as politicians] should talk about this, and we should point to [enlargement as] one of the most important challenges for Europe in the coming years. Together with [ensuring] that Ukraine can fight Russia, together with [ensuring] that we are strong enough when it comes to our resilience and defence - it is enlargement.❞ #BalkansSummit

🌐 Addressing what can be done in the Western Balkans to improve governance, cooperation with international finance institutions, and support their green and digital transitions, @Tim_Lardner, Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia @UNOPS, provided a clear example: ❝This week we’ve signed an agreement with the European Union to look at borders in Serbia [...] how we can open but strengthen those borders around Serbia. So all of these relatively small projects [...] help these states move forward.❞ #BalkansSummit