The European Union re-established the exceptional autonomous trade preferences to all Western Balkan countries until the end of 2015. According to the Commission, these trade preferences support economic integration with the EU and hence foster political stability and economic progress in the entire region.

The Commission announced on 30 December the re-establishment of the exceptional autonomous trade preferences, which it grants to all Western Balkan countries including Kosovo, until the end of 2015. This measure means that Western Balkan economies will continue to benefit from an unlimited duty-free access to the EU market for nearly all products originating in these countries and territories.

All Western Balkan countries therefore will further benefit from the preferential trade regime. It should notably allow the customs territory of Kosovo to benefit from the current duty-free, quota-free treatment for almost all its exported products. Total exports of Kosovo to the EU amounted to about €147 millions in 2010.

The exceptional unlimited duty-free access to the EU market for nearly all products originating in the Western Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo) was a regulation introduced for the first time in 2000. The Commission proposed to extend this autonomous preferential regime until 31 December 2015 on 22 February 2010. The European Parliament voted in favour of the Commission's proposal on 13 October 2011 and the Council adopted it on 24 November 2011.