"Mittelstand" and Trade in South Eastern Europe

South Eastern Europe and especially the countries of former Yugoslavia are often regarded as a synonym for political, social as well as economical instability with future prospects that are more than complicated. However, the celebrations on the occasion of Bulgaria’s and Romania’s accession to the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2007 pointed the way forward to a peaceful stabilisation of the region. They raised the hope of the so called Western Balkan countries to move into the same direction as soon as possible. Once more the enlargement process of the EU has thereby proved its capacity to help applicant countries transform into functioning democracies and free market economies.