ABSTRACT
Regional co-operation in Southeast Europe (SEE) is of even greater importance today, in the aftermath of the Kosovo conflict, than a few years ago. The various initiatives to stimulate regional co-operation in SEE in the 1990s have not yet led to any significant results. On the contrary, the lack of regional cooperation has seriously undermined peace and stability in SEE, contributing to several armed conflicts in the region, including the most recent war in Kosovo between March and June 1999. Not surprisingly, the international community's latest initiative, the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, adopted 10 June 1999 in Cologne, again relies on regional co-operation as one of the most important instruments for bringing lasting peace and stability to this part of Europe. This paper discusses some aspects, primarily economic, of regional co-operation in SEE. For the purposes of this paper, SEE will include seven transition countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), although Slovenia will also occasionally be considered. The paper first examines the question of economic integration in SEE by looking at past and present trade links among SEE countries. It then considers various initiatives aimed at stimulating regional co-operation, including EU policies toward the SEE region. Finally, the paper discusses the main reasons why closer economic ties among SEE countries should actively be encouraged, followed by some concluding remarks.
