Economic and legal aspects of the Danube transport in the function of the western Balkans countries integration with the European Union

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the current process of adoption and transposition of EU Transport Acquis Communautaire and Common EU Transport Policy for the Western Balkans countries (WBC), as an important step in improving the intra-regional and inter-regional cooperation with each other and the EU itself. The implementation of regional infrastructure for the better inclusion of the cross-border trade, the gradual deregulation and liberalization of the transport market are considered to be a pivotal for overall economic regional development and better integration with the EU. This paper will explore the current situation in Republic of Serbia legislation, with a view to understanding the EU driven streamlining and harmonization the regional efforts of the WBC in transport acquis towards the coordinated transport policy. The current utilisation of the river Danube inland waterway is not optimal in spite of the fact that it represents a significant potential to be used in the near futurity.