Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Gru_nwald, Doris --- "Preface" [2005] ELECD 372; in Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Grünwald, Doris (eds), "European Economic Integration and South-East Europe" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005)

Book Title: European Economic Integration and South-East Europe

Editor(s): Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Grünwald, Doris

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781845425173

Section Title: Preface

Author(s): Liebscher, Klaus; Christl, Josef; Mooslechner, Peter; Ritzberger-Gru_nwald, Doris

Number of pages: 4

Extract:

Preface
Klaus Liebscher, Josef Christl, Peter Mooslechner
and Doris Ritzberger-Grünwald

South-East Europe promises to be the next major focal region of European
integration dynamics and modernization efforts. While not much research
has been devoted to it so far, South-East Europe is now among the fastest-
growing regions on the continent and possesses large potential yet to be
tapped for further expansion. South-East Europe as we understand it and
as it is generally defined in contemporary political geography comprises the
following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,
FYR of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro. Since Central
Europe joined the EU in May 2004, the focus of the integration process has
clearly shifted south-east. Apart from Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia,
which are the candidates for the next accession rounds, all other countries
of the region now have an accession perspective. Moreover, the Stability
Pact for South-Eastern Europe has been assisting the difficult catching-up
process of this region through various initiatives for years. Austria is a
neighbour and intimately linked to South-East Europe by the Danube, by
geography and by history. Today, economic links play a prime role, with
trade volumes developing on a dynamic trajectory and Austrian investors
being in the forefront of the microeconomic re-integration process of the
region with the rest of Europe.
This book contains contributions made to the Oesterreichische
Nationalbank's first Conference on European Economic Integration,
which took place in November 2004. This event continued the ...