TIRANA (Albania), May 25 (SeeNews) – The Western Balkans countries and Turkey agreed to deepen economic and social reforms in order to improve the economy and boost competitiveness and inclusive growth, the Council of the European Union said on Friday.
Western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo) and Turkey jointly adopted conclusions with policy guidance based on the countries' economic reform programmes submitted to the European Commission, the Council said in a statement, following those countries' annual economic and financial dialogue with the EU.
The dialogue was attended by representatives of the EU member states, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, the statement said, adding that the aim of the dialogue is to help the countries concerned improve their macroeconomic stability, management of public finances and to boost competitiveness and long-term growth in the region.
“These structural reforms range from increasing the quality of education and bridging the skills gap that contribute to the very high levels of unemployment to improving the business environment and investment climate by fighting corruption and the grey economy, cutting red tape and strengthening the judiciary,” the statement reads.