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Merkel, EU Officials Vow Targeted Aid For Western Balkans


By RFE/RL

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU officials hosting leaders of Western Balkan countries at a Berlin summit have vowed to continue promoting the economic development of the region.

Merkel said after the summit on August 28 that funding of infrastructure projects "will help lead to an understanding between Balkan nations in the future."

She also said "there is a real perspective for EU membership for countries of the region."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said infrastructure investment must be sped because there are "too many missing links in terms of roads, rail networks, or on the energy grid."

He vowed the EU would "continue playing a leading part through targeted financial aid."

The one-day summit was attended by officials from Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Albania, as well as EU members Slovenia and Croatia.

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