Brussels, 04/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission published a first annual report on the stabilisation and association process for South East Europe. It calls on the Fifteen to pursue this lengthy policy and encourages the countries of the region to continue with their reform efforts, which are also long term. In order to strengthen political dialogue and regional cooperation, it invites the countries of the region and the EU to meet regularly at ministerial level, in the follow-up of the Zagreb Summit of November 2000. This very general document is completed by more detailed reports for each of the five countries concerned: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Commission stresses that Community aid to the region from 1991 to 2001 amounted to EUR 6.8 billion in all (commitment appropriations).
The report is severe towards Albania. Although its reform efforts have been more "productive" since 1998, Albania is still lagging behind because of a "cultural policy of confrontation where individual interests generally prevail over the common interest", elections are not yet at the level of the international norms, legislation is rarely implemented, the administration is weak and corrupt, and corruption and organised crime is widespread.
For Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Commission stresses that some of the gravest problems were settled with the aid of the international community (end of the conflict, return of refugees, institutional reforms), but that Bosnia has an enormous amount to do before it is self-sustaining: application of the rule of law, reconciliation of the different communities, development of a viable economy given the reduction of international economic aid.
The Commission welcomes the progress made in Croatia since the change of government in 2000 but points a finger of blame at the weakness of the judiciary system and the pressure from nationalists. It welcomes the improved economic situation.
Regarding Yugoslavia, the report also stresses the political and economic progress made since the fall of Milosevic. It criticises Montenegro, considering that the "less cooperative attitude shown by the constituent republic undermines the way the State works".
The report recalls the consequences of the conflict that divided Macedonia in 2001 and stresses that the implementation of the commitments taken in the stabilisation and association agreement will serve as an indicator for progress in this country.
The general report retraces the broad lines of this stabilisation and association process launched in May 1999 by the Fifteen to frame their policy towards the Balkans. European policy is based on stabilisation and association agreements that must be signed with each country, on liberalisation of trade, and on the CARDS financial assistance programme (EUR 4.65 billion for 2000-2006), all being accompanied by strong pressure to strengthen regional cooperation. The EU has already signed a stabilisation and association agreement with Macedonia and Croatia. The Commission has proposed a negotiating brief for Albania. Preparatory discussions are under way with Bosnia and Yugoslavia. In the report, the Commission welcomes progress made: all the regimes are democracies, and reform is under way everywhere. It also stresses the fragility of the constitutional arrangements in Bosnia, Yugoslavia and Macedonia, the generalised corruption, the weak administrative ability, the political behaviour that is still highly conflictual, nationalism, and the lack of a strong civil society. The Commission insists on the need for the five countries of the region to cooperate among themselves.
The annual report and its annexes may be consulted on the European Commission's site, http: //http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/index.htm as well as the regional strategy CARDS 2002-2006 document, published last October on these same themes (see EUROPE of 23 October).