Representatives of the EU Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as representatives of the central banks of the Western Balkans and Turkey[1] met for their annual economic policy dialogue[2]. Participants welcomed the submission of the 2016 Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs) of the Western Balkans and regretted that Turkey’s ERP had been submitted with a significant delay. The programmes outline the medium-term macroeconomic and fiscal framework as well as structural reforms (affecting labour markets, transport, energy, education etc.) to enhance competitiveness and long-term growth. The programmes cover the period 2016-2018.
Participants took note of the Conclusions of the General Affairs Council on 15 December 2015 in which the Council took note of the Commission’s communication on the EU enlargement strategy and the reports, which have a strengthened focus on economic governance. The dialogue on economic governance with the Western Balkans and Turkey is meant to prepare them for their future participation in the EU economic policy coordination. The dialogue reflects to some extent the European Semester process at EU level.
Participants recalled the commitment to set out a new set of targeted policy guidance to support efforts towards fulfilling the Copenhagen economic criteria. In this context, Participants agreed that the elements of the 2015 policy guidance which had not yet been fully implemented remained valid and needed be addressed by policymakers in the Western Balkans and Turkey.
[1] Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Turkey are candidate countries for EU accession.
[2] The conclusions of this dialogue are without prejudice to EU Member States’ positions on the status of Kosovo.
