Brussels, 21/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission adopted a Communication aimed at speeding up the integration of the Balkans into Europe by introducing instruments inspired by the enlargement process, instruments that have already proven their worth, into the current policies for that region. With this contribution to the European Summit of Thessaloniki, on 20 and 21 June, the Commission hopes to give the Balkan countries a clear prospect of joining the EU, once the criteria defined in Copenhagen have been met, and, in exchange, receive a political commitment on the Balkan countries' part to set the necessary reforms in place. No date, however, has yet been fixed, despite the declared intention of Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro to join the EU in 2007. Chris Patten, External Relations Commissioner, said "these countries will join once they fulfil the economic and political criteria as was the case of the future Member States".
The Association and Stabilisation Process (ASP) will remain the framework for European policy toward the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM and Serbia and Montenegro). The main idea is to introduce "partnerships for European integration" based on the annual reports prepared by the Commission in the context of ASP, which will list priority actions to be undertaken to support the effort being made by the Balkans with a view to EU membership. EU financial assistance will be directed according to these priorities. Such partnerships, established in consultation with the countries concerned, will be approved by the Council on the basis of a Commission proposal. Then, the countries concerned are to develop action plans and timetables for progress to be made. The Commission also plans to increase financial assistance in favour of the Balkans. Mr Patten said that a proposal of EUR 200 million for 2004-2006 was on the table of the budgetary authority (EUR 71 million annually). Furthermore, the Commission is said to be "ready", in coordination with the international finance institutions, to examine the possibilities for granting exceptional macro-financial assistance. Answering questions on the suggestions made by the Greek Presidency that a further EUR 300 million should be provided annually for 2004-2006, from the pre-accession aid heading, Mr Patten replied that, if the Greek Presidency considers it can convince the other Member States to give more money, then he can but agree.
The other measures proposed in the communication are: - increased support for the strengthening of the institutions via twinning programmes (especially posting of Member State officials to work as advisers in the Balkans); - better political cooperation, by inviting the Balkan countries to associate themselves with the declarations, common positions and other EU decisions within the context of common foreign and security policy; - increased participation in certain Community programmes regarding education, vocational training, energy; - strengthened economic development: mainly extending the European-wide system of cumulation of origin of goods allowing countries to export, at preferential prices, products composed of elements from various countries of the region; - accession by these countries to the principles of the European charter on small enterprises to set in place in the medium term a free trade area in the region; - a specific agreement governing the trade of energy products (the Commission will endeavour to present proposals aimed at opening the internal energy market to the Balkans by the end of the year); - improved rule of law and cooperation in justice and foreign affairs; - and strengthened regional and parliamentary cooperation, mainly promoting integration of these countries in the network of regional or international parliamentary structures.