Changes in the Structure of Commodity Trade Between the Western Balkna Countries and the European Union Over the Previous Ten Years

The aim of this paper is to analyse main characteristics of the commodity trade between the Western Balkan countries and their major trading partner, the European Union, and the changes that occurred over the previous ten years, since the EU introduced autonomous trade preferences to the region. A ten-year period, from 2001 to 2010, is observed, and Eurostat import and export data at one and two digit SITC levels are used. Aggregate data for the Western Balkans and the EU 27 are observed, although certain comments related to individual WB countries, and also related to the EU’s new member states, are made.