VISIT OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL (RCC) IN SARAJEVO WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE WESTERN BALKAN FUND MOVE GRANT
The project entitled: ‘The impact of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans on the traditional patterns of labour mobility’
During the period 28 April-04 May 2024, Prof. Dimitar Nikoloski realized the mobility in Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo within the framework of the Western Balkan Fund MOVE grant.The project is entitled: ‘The impact of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans on the traditional patterns of labour mobility’. The aim of this project is to evaluate the impact of the regional cooperation initiatives in the Western Balkans on the traditional patterns of labor mobility. More precisely, I intend to assess the relevance of the above stated hypotheses that up to the present have not been rigorously treated. Hence, this research will fill the gap in the existing literature by providing evidence about the implications of the regional cooperation in the Western Balkan region. Furthermore, the evidence-based assessment will assist in revealing what strategy of regional cooperation is most suitable for the economic development of the region, particularly in the light of the ongoing EU integration process.
The project will bring several benefits for the regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. First, the project will provide a clear picture about the impact of regional cooperation initiatives on the size and characteristics of intra-regional labour mobility. In this context, it is reasonable to assume that increased regional cooperation has changed the traditional patterns of labour mobility. Furthermore, it is expected that strengthened regional cooperation will improve the economic development of the Western Balkan region thus, making it more attractive for foreign direct investments (FDI). The FDI are expected to exert shifts in labour demand in the region manifested by higher employment and wages at least in the short-run. In addition, the remittances from the diaspora and potential return migration might intensify the economic development in the regional context. The remittances represent a particularly important source of finance in less developed regions such as Western Balkans that help the development of entrepreneurial activities in the region. The return migrants often bring new ideas, skills and competences that influence the businesses beyond the national boundaries. Finally, the results from the project will be used as guidelines for designing appropriate policy recommendations that will contribute to increased economic integration within the common perspective for EU accession. The policies for regional cooperation have significantly contributed to improved intra-regional labour mobility, while further policy interventions would increase the integration of the Western Balkan region in the European single market.
