Čadež: The Western Balkans Is Part of the European Economy; New EU Rules Must Not Create Barriers

President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Marko Čadež, said in Istanbul that the Western Balkans is already deeply integrated into European value chains and that new EU rules must take this economic reality into account. He warned that regulatory barriers, including the 90/180 rule for professional drivers, could disrupt transport, production and supply chains across Europe.

Speaking at the meeting of Eurochambres’ affiliated members, held today in Istanbul, Čadež stressed that this is not merely an issue affecting Serbian or Western Balkan drivers.

“If transport stops, European factories and European supply chains stop as well. That is why resolving this issue is a common European economic interest. We are talking about hundreds of millions of euros worth of goods that could be blocked,” he said.

According to Čadež, more practical integration is essential.

“When the EU introduces new rules, from CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), the Industrial Act, deforestation and steel regulations to public procurement, waste and packaging, it is necessary to consider how these rules affect Western Balkan companies that are already part of European value chains. If the goal is integration, regulation must not create new economic walls, because that would negatively affect both EU companies and companies from the region.”

He invited the presidents of the chambers of commerce to visit Belgrade and take part in EXPO 2027, and announced that a meeting of the Eurochambres Board of Directors would also be held next May during the exhibition.

The main topics of the Istanbul meeting focused on the EU enlargement process, particularly integration into the EU Single Market, as well as the removal of various regulatory and other barriers that negatively affect European value chains. Participants exchanged views on current challenges and opportunities for business communities, as well as on the role of chambers of commerce in the European integration process, enhancing competitiveness and creating better conditions for companies to operate.

During the opening session, participants were addressed by Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Vice-President of Eurochambres and President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB); Vladimir Dlouhý, President of Eurochambres; and Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Ambassador, Deputy Minister and Director for EU Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, who previously served as Türkiye’s Ambassador to Serbia.

PHOTO: M. Petrović