Rome, 27/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - In a speech made on 26 June in Rome (where he met President Ciampi, Prime Minister Amato and the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dini), the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, asserted, in particular that representatives from the Serb opposition should be invited to the EU/Balkans summit taking place under the French Presidency, so that they may contribute "to the aim of re-establishing confidence between the EU and Serb society, and to encourage regional co-operation in the post-Milosevic era." With regard to EU policy towards the Balkans, Mr. Solana also recalled that "we have proposed to already start planning in view of a democratic Serbia, in part through the preparation of a detailed economic transition programme."
Mr. Solana, who broached the main topical CFSP issues, also underlined the remarkable developments that occurred during the last months concerning European Security and Defence Policy. Some, "seeing officers in uniform moving in our buildings," go as far as saying that "the EU's original DNA is being genetically modified," noted Mr. Solana, who recognised that the new security and defence dimension "radically modifies the nature of the European institutions." This development was followed with great interest by our partners, he recalled, saying he was "sure that the arrangements adopted in Feira establish the right balance between safeguarding EU autonomy and the greatest involvement possible of our partners (if they want to) in the operational phase of any action" by the EU (though Turkey reacted in a negative manner: see EUROPE of 24 June, p.3). Finally, Mr. Solana signalled that at the Nice summit he will be reporting, with the French presidency on the results of the Conference on Member States military commitment capabilities (which should take place in November: Ed.).