Brussels, 11/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The engagement of the European Union in the Balkans is a long drawn out undertaking, it must be both firm and patient, and concentrate on often unspectacular, but constructive actions, stated the European Commissioner, Chris Patten when outlining the "European Union strategy in the Balkans", in a long speech in which he defended the action lead by the Prodi Commission, and refused to speak out over constitutional issues (Kosovo, Montenegro…), by calling to first concentrate on concrete issues.
The strategy of the European Union, "is a matter of slow, steady, incremental, not particularly glamorous work; building stability brick by brick, day by day, month by month, year by year" in a region where the reasons for hope "continuously" follow those of despair, "slowly begin to work. But it will take time (…) We have to give the strategy the time it needs to work, and make sure it is strong enough and flexible enough to cope with the inevitable setbacks and reversals, said the European Commissioner for external relations, in this speech made on Tuesday on the invitation of the International Crisis Group (ICG). Mr Patten set a timeline of a good dozen years - that of the end of schooling for children in the Balkans, who are nor starting primary school - to arrive at countries that are "radically changed for the better, prosperous, stable European democracies, at peace with each other and at peace with themselves, either members of the EU or well on the road to membership".
The EU strategy is based on the CARDS programme for assistance to the reconstruction and stabilisation of the Balkans (provided with EUR 4.65 billion over ten years), on the European Agency for Reconstruction and on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. In exchange, the Union expects from these countries that they demonstrate an unequivocal commitment for the crucial values of the EU, that they work hard to reform their economies and create a market economy capable of entering into competition with the Member States, and that their administrations are capable of applying European laws. At the front of the requirements are also collaboration with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The transfer of Milosevic is a historic step forward. Though this is not the end of the road. All those indicted, wherever they may be, must be transferred to The Hague, stated the Commissioner. Another requirement is inter-regional cooperation. It is not enough that the countries of the region cooperate with the EU. We want for them to cooperate increasingly closely among themselves, as they did in the Zagreb Summit.
Commissioner Patten covered in a few words the issues of constitution and status. The question of the status of Kosovo is important, but "it is not the whole story", he felt preferring to look at the "dull stuff", that is to say the daily work. He also stated his great hostility towards the idea of re-examining the borders. We must not throw-up the borders and the constitutions by hoping that they are better when they fall down, he said when answering questions on the status of Kosovo and Montenegro, feeling that to thus open the Pandora's box would not be wise, all the more so that very practical questions (heating for the winter…) remain to be resolved.
To conclude, Chris Patten also outlined the state of the situation: 1) Albania: the Commission intends to present a negotiating mandate for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) relatively quickly, if possible before the end of the year. Though there remains a great deal to do, with truly considerable weaknesses" with regards to the rule of law and the administration; 2) Bosnia Herzegovina: Bosnia has undertaken very few reforms called for by the EU, while the negotiations for a SAA could not start without significant progress; 3) Yugoslavia: there are enormous political problems (…) but the true work of institutional and economic reform has only just started. An advisory group, first step towards the negotiation of a SAA, will meet for the first time on 23 July; 4) Croatia: the new government has had impressive beginnings. The SAA, signed in May, is the beginning of a process, not its conclusion; 5) Macedonia: the main aim is the re-establishment of peace. For Mr Patten the SAA, signed in April, bring a framework, which may help to contribute. Mr Patten also announced that the Commission is considering proposing an aid of EUR 50 million, in addition to the 42 million already foreseen for this year, in case a political agreement is implemented.