The One Belt One Road Initiative: analyzing and modeling the Economic Impact on Western Balkans

The CEECs region had grown at a rapid pace from 2002 until the global slowdown in 2008. In the five-year period from 2002-2006, the differential growth with the Euro Area had been around 2-4. It jumped even further in 2007, a year of very significant growth in Emerging and Transition Economies. This fast economic growth had helped CEECs to narrow the economic gap with respect to the Euro Area, but starting from 2008, due to the slowdown, the narrowing path has weakened and now it need to be restored. It has become clear that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and international trade have an important role in economic convergence of CEECs, based on projects supported by the European Union Commission. The One Belt One Road Initiative could further support this convergence.