Germany has drafted a mini-Marshall Plan for the Balkans aimed at enhancing the regional economies in the coming years and serve as compensation for the countries’ long wait for full-fledged European Union membership, reads Belgrade daily “Vecernje Novosti” citing diplomatic sources.
The paper says the proposal should be soon discussed in Brussels, where the European Council is to approve it and allocate a special fund for the Balkan states.
The plan is dubbed “Berlin Plus” and the funds for its realization are to be provided from the European Economic Area (EEA) comprised of all EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, as well as the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), also including Switzerland.
The idea is to create an attractive economic area in the region within several years, with funds used, amongst other, for creation of new companies and infrastructure links.
In addition, “Berlin Plus” is also activated for the purpose of lowering regional tensions, since the Balkans has a large significance for Germany from a security viewpoint, reads “Vecernje Novosti”.
