Nema spektakularnog napretka u poslovanju (Svetska banka) regiona jugositočne Evrope, a posebno Srbije. Susedne zemlje ipak bolje. Recimo, Hrvatska je 2007. godine bila rangirana na 97 mestu, zahvaljujući unapređenju svih komponenti poslovanja, osim plaćanja poreza i rešavanja trgovinskih sporazuma. Slično je sa Makedonijom i Crnom Gorom. Ostale zemlje regiona, inače članice EU, zadržale su svoje pozicije sa malim odstupanjima, ali bez velikog napretka.
U odnosu na izveštaj za 2014. godinu, najbolji rezultat od zemalja regiona postigla je Makedonija, a najlošiji Srbija. Makedonija je poboljšala svoje performanse kod otpočinjanja biznisa, zaštite malih investirora i rešavanja problema nesolventnosti. Albanija je napravila iskorak kod ubrzavanja procedura za otpočinjanje biznisa, izdavanje građevinskih dozvola i registrovanje imovine, uz pogoršanje na strani odobravanja kredita i u porezima. Crna Gora je ubrzala odobravanje građevinskih dozvola, Bosna i Hercegovina nije pokazala nikakav napredak u odnosu na prethodni izveštaj, dok Srbija beleži lošije rezultate kod registrovanja imovine. Kod zemalja članica EU, Bugarska beleži napredak samo kod otpočinjanja novog biznisa, Slovenija je unapredila rešavanje problema nesovlenosti, dok Hrvatska beleži poboljšanja kod otpočinjanja biznisa i izdavanja građevinskih dozvola, ali i pogrošanje unutar poreske politike. Nasuprot ovim zemljama, Mađarska je pokazala iskorak kod kreditiranja privrede i u poreskoj sferi, ali i pogoršanje kod otpčinjanja biznisa, dok Rumunija beleži napredak u poreskoj politici.
U poređenju sa ostalim zemljama, ako Srbija želi da poboljša poslovnu klimu u skorije vreme ima obavezu da ubrzano radi na smanjivanju broja dana za otpočinjanje biznisa (duže nego u Makedoniji za 10 dana), skraćivanju perioda izdavanja građevinskih dozvola (duži nego u Makedoniji za 175 dana), ubrzavanju registracije imovine (duže nego u Bugarskoj za 44 dana) i ubrzavanju rešavanja trgovinskih sporova (duže nego u Mađarskoj za 240 dana).
Generalno posmatrano, rezultati poslovanja celog regiona ne predstavljaju „mamac“ za strane investitore. To potvrđuju i podaci UNCTAD-a o prilivu stranih direktnih investicija u ovaj region. Atraktivnost ulaganja u regionu nije na visokom nivou. Kada bi se izdvojili najbolji pokazatelji poslovanja ovih zemalja mogli bi dobiti jednu zemlju sa ozbiljnim karakteristikama, privlačnu za stranog investitora. Nešto poput zemalja jugo-istočne Azije.
There has been no spectacular progress in the business environment (according to the World Bank) in the region of Southeast Europe, particularly in Serbia. Neighboring countries have performed somewhat better. For example, Croatia was ranked 97th in 2007 thanks to improvements in almost all business components, except for tax payments and the resolution of commercial disputes. A similar situation can be observed in North Macedonia and Montenegro. Other countries in the region that are EU members have largely maintained their positions with minor deviations, but without major progress.
Compared to the 2014 report, the best performance in the region was achieved by North Macedonia, while the worst was recorded by Serbia. North Macedonia improved its performance in starting a business, protecting minority investors, and resolving insolvency. Albania made progress in accelerating procedures for starting a business, issuing construction permits, and registering property, while performance worsened in access to credit and taxation. Montenegro accelerated the issuance of construction permits, whereas Bosnia and Herzegovina showed no progress compared to the previous report, and Serbia recorded weaker results in property registration. Among EU member states in the region, Bulgaria improved only in starting a new business, Slovenia advanced in resolving insolvency, while Croatia improved in starting a business and issuing construction permits but experienced deterioration in tax policy. In contrast, Hungary made progress in business financing and taxation but worsened in starting a business, while Romania recorded improvements in tax policy.
In comparison with other countries, if Serbia wants to improve its business climate in the near future, it must urgently reduce the number of days required to start a business (10 days longer than in North Macedonia), shorten the time needed to obtain construction permits (175 days longer than in North Macedonia), accelerate property registration (44 days longer than in Bulgaria), and speed up the resolution of commercial disputes (240 days longer than in Hungary).
Overall, the business performance of the entire region does not represent a strong “magnet” for foreign investors. This is confirmed by UNCTAD data on foreign direct investment inflows into the region. Investment attractiveness remains low. If the best business indicators of these countries were combined, one could obtain a country with serious characteristics attractive to foreign investors—something similar to the economies of Southeast Asia.