Hluboka nad Vltavou, 30/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The foreign affairs ministers have confirmed the European perspective of the western Balkans, whilst reiterating the importance of conditions vital for enlargement. These, not surprisingly, are respect for the Copenhagen criteria and the implementation of economic and political reforms, but others feel that the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty should also be included. Without the treaty, things will certainly become increasingly complicated, several ministers stressed (some also believe that crisis will not help matters). In particular, a great many reforms are still required in all of the Balkan countries, they stressed, of the second day of the Gymnich.
“We managed to agree that despite the economic and financial crisis, we will not slow down the integration of the western Balkans (…) but there is strict conditionality to be satisfied by those countries”, said Karel Schwarzenberg on Saturday 28 March. "Most of the work has to be done by the governments and parliaments of those countries” he added, speaking before the press. In a press release issued after the meeting, the Czech Presidency stated that the process of stabilisation and association remains the general structure for the potential accession of the countries of the region. Regional cooperation (in terms of energy, transport, trade, the fight against corruption and organised crime, the return of refugees and border controls) and the reinforcement of contact between citizens (by means of a visa-free regime) remain key elements of the process, the document states.
"It is important that the foreign ministers reiterated the European perspective", said Olli Rehn, who feels that it is vital to "pursue a policy of stabilisation" in the region. This must be done by "tangible results" on visa liberalisation, for which the Commission will make more detailed proposals "in the course of the spring", added the commissioner with responsibility for enlargement. He went on to say that we must "not make enlargement into a scapegoat for some ills that it is not responsible for". Enlargement was not under discussion when Ireland held its referendum and "I cannot imagine enlargement could be blamed for the economic crisis. Let's not blame Croatian workers for failures of financial capitalism which originated in Wall Street". (A.B./transl.fl)