5 Stabilisation and Association process
for South-east Europe
| (24413)
8041/03
COM(03) 139
| Commission Report: The Stabilisation and Association process for South East Europe: Second Annual Report.
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 26 March 2003
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 8 April 2003
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM of 23 April 2003
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| To be discussed in Council | No date set
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Not cleared; further information requested
|
5.1 The Stabilisation and Association process is designed to bring
the Western Balkans closer to the European Union and to prepare
them, ultimately, for membership. The states involved are Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro.
5.2 This second annual report takes stock of progress
since the first annual report, which we cleared on 26 June 2002.[9]
It finds that all the countries are making steady but slow progress.
The Commission comments that this is "sometimes more due
to international input and pressure rather than a willingness
or ability of the countries themselves to take ownership of, and
drive forward, the reform process". It argues that the process
should be seen as a contract between the EU and the states concerned.
Whilst it is continuously looking for ways to improve the process,
an increased effort on the part of the EU has to be accompanied
by an equally strong political commitment on the part of the Western
Balkans countries to implement the necessary reforms. There has
to be a shared agenda. Furthermore, the EU is a "union of
values" and the governments of the region must espouse these
values, which relate to democracy, the rule of law, respect for
human rights, protection of minorities and a market economy.
The countries of the region, which are increasingly espousing
these values, need to be given time and the EU has to appreciate
that the Stabilisation and Association process will not be a "quick
fix".
5.3 The report reviews progress across the region
as a whole, with summaries annexed of more detailed reports on
each country. These point to a number of areas where further
reforms are required to allow the individual countries to move
towards a closer relationship with the EU. A generally poor record
on implementation is a common theme. The obstacles to transition
and development from which all suffer are fragile institutions,
poor administrative capacity and weak application of the rule
of law.
5.4 The CARDS programme, under which the EU provides
financial assistance to the area, runs from 2001 to 2006, with
a multi-annual indicative programme covering 2002-2004. The Commission
says that an increase in the allocation, which is under discussion,
would enable it to intensify its efforts as regards socio-economic
development and civil society, as well as sectors such as justice
and home affairs which require extra attention, and to provide
additional support for the provisional administrations in Bosnia
and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Other activities could include doing
more to review the legislation of each country and assess its
conformity with EU standards, gradually extending participation
in Community programmes to the region, and developing political
dialogue. Although the Western Balkans countries had expressed
a particular interest in liberalisation of the EU's visa regime
and migration policy, the Commission comments that the EU could
only seriously consider reviewing its visa regime when the countries
of the region
"have substantially improved their administrative
capacity and application of the rule of law, can ensure effective
border control, adequate systems for document security and when
serious measures [have been] taken to combat organised crime and
corruption".
The Government's view
5.5 The Minister for International Trade and Investment
at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade
and Industry (Baroness Symons) comments:
"The Government supports the Stabilisation and
Association process (SAp) as the EU's main policy instrument in
the Western Balkans. The SAp acts both as a stimulus to European
integration and as a lever for reform. The annual reporting cycle,
of which this forms the second Annual Report, is valuable in providing
a record of progress made by the Western Balkans states and in
pointing up issues which have caused difficulties or remain to
be dealt with. The Government endorses the second Annual Report
and expects it to form the basis of further work to help prioritise
and steer reform efforts in these countries."
Conclusion
5.6
The clear
message to emerge from this report is that progress has been slow
and that the Commission considers that the Western Balkans states
need to take ownership of the process of reform and take the initiative
to drive it forward themselves, rather than in response to international
pressure.
5.7 During the negotiations with
the current accession states, reference was made by some to the
need to satisfy the expectations of their voters. We ask the
Minister whether the Government considers that, while the EU has
been correct to offer the Western Balkans states the "carrot"
of eventual membership of the Union, it should also make it clear
to their governments that they should be careful not to encourage
unrealistic expectations amongst their voters, since the EU will
not lower its criteria for membership in order to help future
applicants over internal pressures for membership earlier than
they are ready for.
5.8 Meanwhile, we do not clear the
document.
9 (23404) 7780/02; see HC 152-xxxiv (2001-02), paragraph
10 (26 June 2002). Back
|
