Brussels, 18/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - Just a few weeks from EU enlargement, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Eurochambres) launched, on 16 February in Skopje, a new programme called PARTNERS. Developed within the framework of CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation), the two-year project aims to help national and regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro) to develop.
"PARTNERS aims to reinforce the capacity of Chambers in the West Balkan countries to promote intra-regional trade and trade with the European Union which is the most important trading partner of this region", Eurochambres Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini said, adding: "Chamber organisations will be empowered to promote local development and attract investments as well as to support the local companies to intensify their trade relations with the EU single market".
Activities under PARTNERS mainly include: 1) a survey assessing the level of competitiveness of Western Balkan companies and their familiarity with the acquis communautaire, and identification of areas where companies need more information and technical assistance; 2) chamber twinnings between selected Western Balkan and EU Chambers to encourage, within the Western Balkan Chambers, a management change and innovative services in the area of internationalisation and local development; and 3) seminars for Chamber representatives on trade-related topics as well as the information that Chambers need to contribute more actively to the Stabilisation and Association Process and to prepare companies for eventual EU accession.