Том 2 - Тенденции и предизвикателства в развитието на ...

Ways forward?Tariffs liberalizationFurther efforts are necessary among those members that did notcompletely liberalize trade in agricultural and industrial products. Theoriginal idea of CEFTA can be realized only with full liberalization ofcommercial exchange. The main beneficiaries will be the member-states’economies and all participants in their production and distribution.Indeed, the main aim is to satisfy the needs of end users/consumers, byproviding them with the best/most competitive product for their money.Non-tariff liberalization as an imperativeMarkets in the region, seemingly liberalized and open to free flowof goods in all directions, in reality are completely closed owing toapplication of the so-called non-tariff measures. These measures oftenrepresent an insurmountable barrier to trade which is very difficult toeliminate, because of their sophistication and complexity. This can beovercome through a dialogue of the parties’ involved and jointidentification of ways to resolve the problem. Progress may be achievedby removing various administratively demanding, expensive, slow andunnecessary procedures, in order to fully utilize the potentials of acustoms free market.Policy synchronization in agriculture, food processing andmarketingAs CEFTA members move closer to full EU membership, it standsto reason that their agricultural, veterinary and phytosanitary policies willbe homogenized in accord with EU’s Common Agricultural Policy. Thuswill trade barriers which discriminate in favour of particularindustries/countries eventually become things of the past? However, thatis a long lasting process.ConclusionThe integration process of the Western Balkans economies is animportant step in their development and their extension to new markets.Once it is formed, the free trade zone in South-East Europe will becomean important strategic location for direct foreign investment, bearing in364