Business in the Balkans: The case for cross-border co-operation

The logic of the single market should be applied to the Balkans so that the region can achieve peace and economic growth. Yet this requires co-operation among people that in some cases have recently been at war. Political leaders are reluctant to start building bridges, for fear that the public is not ready. But business-people, spurred on by the promise of profits and opportunities, are overcoming prejudices fast. This paper argues that business is already driving the process of building a single market in the Balkans, and that national governments and international organisations should focus on supporting their initiatives.