Brussels, 20/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council adopted conclusions reflecting the latest developments in the Balkans and launched an appeal for the Stability Pact for South-East to better support the EU's policy for the region:
Kosovo. The Council welcomed the broadly peaceful holding of elections in Kosovo and expressed its satisfaction that all the country's communities (including the Serbian population) were involved, which was a precondition for them all to be appropriately and effectively represented in the new provisional institutions that have just been democratically elected. The EU encouraged the new Kosovan deputies to exercise their powers in full respect of Resolution 1244 and the constitutional framework for provisional autonomy, and thereby help ensure the harmonious, peaceful and democratic unfurling of provisional autonomy in the interests of all the communities and also of stability in Kosovo itself and in the rest of South-East Europe. The EU is continuing to oppose Kosovo's desire for independence out of fear that it would destabilise the whole region. Finally, the Council stressed its full support for UNMIK and called on the Kosovan authorities to fully cooperate with UNMIK and the Belgrade authorities.
FRY/Montenegro. The Council again pressed upon the Belgrade and Pogdorica authorities that they should enter constructive dialogue in order to rapidly reach agreement on constitutional arrangements that are acceptable to all parties. The Council highlighted its "attachment to a democratic Montenegro within a democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" and again placed emphasis on the need to avoid taking unilateral action. The EU also focussed with force on the fact that if the process were to lead to a referendum, it must be organised according to the democratic standards of a state of law and in line with Montenegro's Constitution. In this connection, the Council expressed concern about the planned Montenegro law concerning referenda. The Council instructed the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, to travel to Belgrade and Podgorica and to report back to it on December 10.
Macedonia. The Council welcomed the 15 November vote by the parliament of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and the important step of adopting the constiutional measures in the Framework Agreement and also proclaiming a new Constitution. The Council called on all parties to continue moving in this direction and apply the full Framework Agreement without delay, respecting the spirit of it. Referring to the recent clashes that had held up the adoption of the constitutional amendments, the Council noted that the ceasefire had to be fully respected and the return of the FYROM security forces had to be arranged in close co-operation with the international community. At a press conference on Monday evening, Commissioner Chris Patten welcomed the adoption of a new Constitution and announced an additional EUR 12 million in aid (on top of the EUR 12.8 million that has already been allocated to Macedonia). The aid will be provided in the very near future in order to repair infrastructure (including the electricity grid) and rebuild around 500 houses. Mr Patten expressed support for the holding of the Donor Conference (which had been postponed) as soon as the implementation of reform had made sufficient progress.
Stability Pact. The Council said the EU would continue to be a catalyst in the Stability Pact for South-East Europe, but wanted the Pact to focus more on regional co-operation and be better co-ordinated with EU policy for the region. In response to the report on the future of the Stability Pact by the High Representative for CFSP and Commissioner Patten at the last General Affairs Council, the Council granted its support to the continuation of a refocused Pact that is closer to the EU (the Pact involved more than 40 international countries and organisations). The Council sees the Pact's main value-added as its capacity for encouraging greater regional co-operation and thereby help prevent conflicts from breaking out. The Council called on the future Coordinator (replacing Bobo Hombach in January) to suggest 5 or 6 priority improvements to how the Pact operates for the 11 March 2002 Council. (Austria had proposed a candidate, while Mr Pöttering and Ms Pack (from the EP's EPP group) suggested that Chris Patten take on this role). The EU noted that the Pact would play an important part in promoting the objectives of the stabilisation and association process between the EU and the Balkans and called for coordination between the Stability Pact and the stabilisation and association process to be carried out by a consultative committee of the Presidency of the EU, the High Representative, the Commission and the Special Coordinator.
Stabilisation and adhesion process
In a report on the review of the stabilisation and adhesion process, the Council outlined progress to date and efforts still to be made in each country of the former Yugoslavia. Operational conclusions confirmed the EU's desire to strike a balance between pressure and encouragement for each country. The main conclusions were as follows:
Albania. The Council welcomed the Commission's report on the high level EU/Albania group, recognising the substantial progress made and calling on the Commission to prepare a draft mandate for negotiating a stabilisation and association agreement, preferably by the end of 2001. With a nod to preparing for the negotiations, the Council approved the setting up of a joint consultative task force as soon as possible.
Bosnia Herzegovina. The Council appreciated the efforts made by the new Cabinet, pointing out that a number of measures (demanded by the Zagreb Summit) had to be implemented by mid-2001 so that the Commission can study the feasibility of a new phase in the stabilisation and association process. The Council is waiting for the Commission's report on the implementation of the measures.
Croatia. Stressing that the signing of a stabilisation and association agreement (negotiations began on 14 May 2001) would allow mutual contractual relations between the EU and Croatia to be instigated for the first time, the Council agreed for the joint consultative task force to continue and for political dialogue to be formalised through a joint EU/Croatia declaration.
Yugoslavia. The Council welcomed the immense progress achieved by FRY in consolidating democracy and promoting the necessary economic and legal reforms and called for the EU/FRY consultative task force to meet (for the first time) as a step towards a stabilisation and association agreement.