Brussels, 28/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - In its final issue of 2004, the Centre for European Policy Studies Europa South-East Monitor includes two articles published in Chaillot Paper No. 70 'The Western Balkans - Moving on' edited by Judy Batt and published in October 2004 by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) of the European Union in Paris. In Issue 60 of Europa South-East Monitor, the CEPS includes the concluding chapter by Judy Batt and the chapter on Serbia written by Ivan Vejvoda, Executive Director of the Balkan Trust for Democracy, a project funded by the Belgrade-based German Marshall Fund.
Judy Batt argues that the EU has an accession strategy for the Western Balkans but will have to keep up its efforts if this is to be made a success story (i.e. for the recent accession of ten new Member States to be reproduced in the Balkans). The international community will have to focus attention on the issue of Kosovo and the EU can play a major role here in preparing Belgrade and Pristina for a final settlement. 'A major challenge for the EU is to deepen its strategy and policies to support state-building in the Western Balkans'.
In an article entitled 'Serbia after Four Years of Transition', Ivan Vejvoda argues that much has been achieved by Serbia in recent years (which together with Montenegro forms the entity of Serbia Montenegro, Ed.). But sustained effort will be required to democratise the country, improve cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former-Yugoslavia and introduce the reforms necessary to combat organised crime and corruption and ensure economic development. Serbia and Montenegro will have to agree on a final settlement for Kosovo. Against this backdrop, the EU should continue to provide financial aid to Serbia and step up interaction at all levels to accelerate the dynamic of integration.