>> After the entry of the countries of the first extension round to the European Union which took place in 2004, the attention of the international but especially the Western European financial and capital markets is drawn towards the states of South-East Europe.

>> Besides the EU-entries of Romania and Bulgaria which are planned for 2007 the remaining follow-up states of former Yugoslavia are the next targets for integration into the European Union. Together with the Ukraine this region represents a market of approximately 100 Mio. people.

>> Due to low costs for production and raw materials as well as excellent opportunities to open new markets for products and services, larger industry and financial companies already arranged an expansion into this highly interesting region, e.g.  companies of the banking and insurance sector.

>> As already experienced within the states of the first EU-integration an increasing expansion policy of small and mid sized enterprises into these countries is to be expected.