The World Bank’s work on trade and integration in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has two main objectives - to support countries efforts to grow by expanding trade with the global economy, and to assist their efforts to integrate with larger markets such as the European Union. At the country level, the World Bank supports provides - analytical work, such as Trade Diagnostic Studies that examine a country's trade policies, behind-the-border policies and institutions that facilitate trade, and its international competitiveness both at the national level and in key industries; and Strategy Papers focussed on trade, investment and integration;
- guidance and support for policy reforms, through Development Policy loans and credits;
- and technical assistance and investment financing to build and strengthen institutions that facilitate trade and integration, such as the Russian Federation - Customs Development Project.
At the regional level, the World Bank works closely with the European Union and principal European development institutions to ensure that the reforms, investments and other interventions that the Bank supports are aligned with the acquis communitaire requirements for those countries seeking accession, and with the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy. Within the region, the World Bank also supports deepening of cooperation on trade and other issues through various sub-regional intitiatives such as the trade facilitation program and through the preparation of region-wider reports, such as the recent Deeper Integration and Trade in Services in the Euro-Mediterranean Region. At the global level, the World Bank advocates changes in the world trading system to make it more supportive of development, as well as working directly with individual countries as they pursue accession to the WTO. |
RSS