17 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 | —
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration |
Minister's letter of 14 May 2003 |
| Previous Committee Report |
HC 63-xx (2002-03), paragraph 5 (7 May 2003) |
| To be discussed in Council
| No date set |
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
17.1 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 (BiH), Croatia, the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro.
17.2 When we considered this Annual Report
on 7 May, we commented that, during the negotiations with the
current accession states, reference was made by some to the need
to satisfy the expectations of their voters. We asked the Minister
for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane) 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, as the EU will not lower its criteria for membership in
order to relieve future applicants from internal pressures for
early membership.
The Minister's letter
17.3 The Minister has replied as follows:
"I agree that is it important for the European
Union to make it clear to governments in the Western Balkans that
they should not encourage unrealistic expectations amongst their
voters of early EU membership.
"Through our posts in the region and regular
Ministerial contacts, the UK regularly makes this point to the
governments, as does the Commission through its delegations.
For example the British Embassy in Tirana undertook a public information
campaign last year to raise awareness of the implications of EU
membership and explain the Stabilisation and Association process
to the Albanian public.
"Conclusions following the May 2002 GAC where
the 2002 SAP reports were considered, recognised the importance
of an accurate portrayal of the findings to the public. The following
extract from the Conclusions illustrates this. 'Noting the importance
of a better understanding of the SAP by the people of the region,
its conditions and obligations as well as its perspectives, the
Council agreed that a greater EU public information effort is
needed in coordination with the authorities of the countries concerned.
It called upon the SAP countries to redouble their efforts in
this regard. It underlines the special contribution of civil
society in bringing out this message. The Council expressed the
belief that the implementation of the necessary reforms would
be greatly assisted by a clearer perception and understanding
throughout all levels of society in the SAP countries of the aims
behind the steps and efforts requested in moving towards the EU.'
"
17.4 The Minister quotes a section from
the report which says that it is important that the EU's policy
and the Stabilisation and Association process is visible to the
people of the region and understood by them. The Council has
pursued a strategy to improve understanding of the EU and what
it can offer, but the countries of the region must play their
part in explaining the realities and mechanics of a closer association.
This would help to foster the necessary sense of ownership of
the process.
17.5 The Minister adds that:
"The EU is considering a clearer articulation
of conditionality and the criteria for accession through the introduction
of Stabilisation and Association Partnerships at the Thessaloniki
summit with the Western Balkans on 21 June. These will clearly
map out the reforms governments in the Western Balkans must undertake".
17.6 In conclusion, the Minister says that
he hopes that his reply reassures the Committee that both the
EU and the UK bilaterally are making every effort to ensure that
governments in the Western Balkans do not raise public expectations
that the criteria for EU membership will be lowered, and that
the challenges they face are clearly communicated to the electorate.
Conclusion
17.7 The Minister has produced a reassuring
reply. We look forward to seeing the "clearer articulation
of conditionality and the criteria for accession" to which
he refers.
17.8 We now
clear the document.
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