18 THE WESTERN BALKANS AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
(24575)
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| Commission Communication: The Western Balkans and European
Integration.
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| Legal base | —
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| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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| Basis of consideration |
EM of 2 June 2003 |
| Previous Committee Report |
None; but see paragraph 17 of this Report |
| To be discussed in Council
| 16 June 2003 GAERC |
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
18.1 In advance of the EU/Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki
on 21 June, the Commission has issued this Communication as a
contribution to the deliberations of the 16 June General Affairs
and External Relations Council and the Thessaloniki European Council
on 19-20 June, which will determine the EU's position at the 21
June Summit.
18.2 The Feira European Council in June
2000 confirmed that it was an EU objective that the countries
of the Western Balkans should be integrated into the political
and economic mainstream of Europe as fully as possible, and recognised
them as potential candidates for EU membership. Several European
Councils since then have reiterated this objective.
The Commission Communication
18.3 At the behest of the Brussels European
Council in March 2003, the Commission provides suggestions as
to how the EU might enrich the Stabilisation and Association Process
for the Western Balkans,[38]
and in particular, how experience from the current enlargement
process could be used to develop it further.
18.4 The Stabilisation and Association Process
(SAP) is designed to help the five countries to reform and to
prepare them for integration into European structures. It has
promoted stability in the region, but the Commission says that
there is now a need to go beyond reconstruction and rehabilitation
to provide support for political and economic transition including,
when appropriate, the approximation of EU legislation. Amongst
its conclusions and recommendations are:
- that "European Integration
Partnerships" should be set up with the five countries.
This suggestion is inspired by experience with the pre-accession
phase of the current enlargement and the Commission believes that
it will give fresh impetus to reform. The Commission's Second
Annual report of March 2003[39]
recognised that progress had been made in all the countries concerned,
but it also highlighted shortcomings. These Partnerships would
help with identifying priorities for action to support reform
and to serve as a checklist against which to measure progress.
They would also be used to target assistance effectively and
would be drawn up on the basis of the Commission's annual reports
on the SAP;
- that support for institution-building under the
CARDS programme should be strengthened, for example by further
expanding twinning programmes and by extending access for the
Western Balkans to the Technical Assistance Information Exchange
Office (TAIEX). Expertise could be mobilised from the new Member
States which have had recent experience of successful pre-accession
preparations. The Western Balkans might also participate in some
Community programmes;
- that the Commission should initiate a dialogue
on Justice and Home Affairs issues, with the aim of establishing
key priorities and benchmarks in areas such as corruption and
organised crime;
- that the Western Balkans should be helped to
take better advantage of liberal EU trade measures. The Commission
will come forward with proposals to extend the Internal Energy
Market to the region;
- that the five countries should establish a regional
framework for parliamentary cooperation with one another and should
develop their relations with the European Parliament and the national
parliaments of the Member States and Accession States; and
- that the Western Balkans should be invited to
associate themselves with certain EU declarations, Common Positions
and other Decisions in the framework of the Common Foreign and
Security Policy.
18.5 Finally, the Commission concludes that
the Western Balkans countries should have a clear perspective
of joining the EU when they have met the necessary criteria, and
that their progress towards this goal will depend mainly on their
own commitment to reform.
The Government's view
18.6 The Minister for Europe (Mr Denis MacShane)
says that the Government supports the enhancement of the Stabilisation
and Association process, and the general thrust of the Communication's
recommendations:
"In particular, we believe the introduction
of annual Partnerships, modelled on those for the central European
candidates, will improve both the Western Balkans countries' ability
to prioritise and implement reforms, and also the EU's own ability
to monitor and support the reform processes in the region."
18.7 The Commission says that it has proposed
an increase in the CARDS budget. The Minister comments that the
Council has not yet agreed whether, and if so to what extent,
to increase funding.
Conclusion
18.8 This Communication includes a number
of useful practical suggestions, drawing on the experience of
the current enlargement process.
18.9 We clear
the document, but ask the Minister to inform us if the EU decides
to adopt a significantly different position, in any respect, at
the EU/Western Balkans Summit on 21 June.
38 Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro. Back
39
(24413) 8041/03;see paragraph 17 of this Report. Back
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