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INVEST IN THE BALKANS

Policy Options and Business Opportunities in South East Europe

The Cercle Gaulois, Brussels – Thursday 11 December 2003

09.00 – 09.30Keynote address by Mladen Ivanic, Foreign Minister, Bosnia and Herzegovina

SESSION I WHAT IS THE PRESENT STATE OF THE EU AND OTHER BALKAN POLICIES?

09.30 - 11.00

The countries of the Balkan region aspire to join the European Union, and that shared ambition is doing much to bury old enmities and heal the scars of war. But is the European Union itself doing enough to stimulate a new enterprise culture and create a more integrated South East European marketplace that will attract foreign investors? What policy steps still need to be taken, by national governments in the Balkan region, by the EU, by the United States and by the relevant international agencies?

Sarah Ludford MEPVice-Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Countries of South-East Europe, European Parliament

Neven MimicaMinister of European Integration, Croatia

Mathias RueteDirector, European Commission Directorate General for Enlargement

Margret ThalwitzSpecial Representative for South-East Europe, the World Bank

11.00 - 11.30 Coffee Break

SESSION IIIS REGIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION PROVING A SUCCESS?

11.30 - 13.00

The policy emphasis is on extending and improving economic cooperation between the countries of South East Europe, and on strengthening the trade links between them. What measures have been taken and how effective do they seem to be? Are the trade policies being pursued by the European Union vis-à-vis Balkan countries sufficiently liberal, and what role should the EU be playing in coordinating the economic development and cooperation policies of national governments in the region? Can any useful lessons be learned from EU policies towards the Central and Eastern European accession countries now on the threshold of membership?

Charles KovacsVice Chairman of the Supervisory Board of SPB Investment Limited and of the Committee of Non-Member Economies of BIAC –Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD

Kyriatos MitsotakisPolitical Scientist, Economist, Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy

Doris Pack MEPChairman of the Delegation for relations with the Countries of South-East Europe, European Parliament

Jean-Louis SixDirector, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Ana S. TrbovicAssistant Minister, Department of European Integration, Serbia

Boris VujčićDeputy Governor, the National Bank of Croatia

13.00 - 14.30 Lunch with luncheon address by Erhard Busek, Special Coordinator for Stability Pact for South-East Europe

SESSION III INVESTMENT CASE STUDIES IN KEY SECTORS

14.30 – 16.30

A number of Balkan countries are beginning to attract substantial foreign investment, although usually in very specific sectors. It is not yet clear whether the policies that have brought success can be adapted to other sectors, or even other countries. Overall policies for stimulating inward investment include investment codes, anti-corruption measures, education and training and the development of business infrastructures like financial services, but what are the sectoral ingredients for success? In this session, speakers have direct experience of investment and business partnerships in manufacturing industry, consumer goods, in infrastructure through public-private partnerships and in service sectors such as banking and insurance or travel and tourism. Speakers will also be drawn from business organisations that are active in the region and that seek to promote SME partnerships.

Sandro BaricevicExternal Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola Adria, Croatia

Christos Gortsos*Secretary General, Hellenic Bank Association, Greece

Miklos MarschallExecutive Director, Transparency International, Germany

Giorgios Moraitis*Chairman, Hellenic Petroleum, Greece

Wolrad RommelSenior Vice President, International Regulatory Affairs, T-Com

16.30End of conference