Toespraak van Olli Rehn over EU-beleid ten opzichte van de Westelijke Balkan en de rol van nationale parlementen (en)

SPEECH/08/269

Olli Rehn

EU Commissioner for Enlargement

The EU strategy towards the Western Balkans and the role of Parliaments

Joint Parliamentary meeting at European Parliament

Brussels, 26 May 2008

Mr President, Honourable Members of Parliaments, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a former Member of a national and of the European Parliament, it is a great pleasure to be here with you today to discuss the EU's strategy towards the Western Balkans.

National parliaments play an important role in the overall discussion on enlargement policy and in communicating it to the citizens. Indeed, the set of Stabilisation and Association Agreements we are concluding with the Western Balkans all require ratification by National parliaments to enter fully into force. I would like to use this opportunity to ask you to move ahead with ratifications, so that we can enter the next phase of relations with the countries in question.

Your active engagement is vital for each country's preparation for future EU membership, especially the Parliaments of candidate countries. Informed debate and broad consensus on the European course do facilitate legislative work, as well as alignment with the EU law and standards. They do help the overall progress in reforms and meeting the criteria. Moreover, parliamentary cooperation and sharing of experience among the Western Balkan countries, as well as between the region and the EU, help to better understand requirements of the integration process and to tackle the challenges ahead. That is why I welcome the initiative of organising this conference. I am glad to hear President Pöttering saying that this won't be a one- off event.

This year is a crucial one for the region and its progress towards the EU. Our shared goal is to maintain peace and stability, while making substantial progress in the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the EU.

Our strategy is based on the renewed consensus on enlargement, as decided by the European Council in December 2006, on the basis of a Commission proposal. This is the EU's policy. It means that we have consolidated the enlargement agenda to the Western Balkans and Turkey. No new commitments are on the horizon.

For the enlargement countries it means primarily one thing: consistent work on reforms and on their implementation. Whoever wants to join the Union must be fully prepared to cope with the membership obligations.

In this regards the Commission has a somewhat schizophrenic role, as we have to act as both a referee and a coach. That is, the Commission monitors closely developments in the countries, and reports on both progress and shortcomings. At the same time the Commission assists and encourages the countries in various ways, both financially and with policy advice.

But let me underline that players in the team are the country's ministers in government, led by the captain, ie the PM. Parties in opposition are required to follow the game closely. The opposition is not the opponent in EY aspiration. The parties in opposition play in the same squad as the government, and share the same goal (EU membership). They should be ready to jump in and play without spending much time on warming up.

A lesson learned from the most recent enlargement is the importance of tackling fundamental problems at an early stage. That is why we focus so much on issues like strengthening the rule of law, good governance, judicial and administrative reform, prevention of organised crime and corruption, and developing civil society.

A further lesson is that the clear prospect of future EU membership remains the strongest driving force for the reform process in the enlargement countries. The EU therefore aims to make this perspective increasingly real and concrete for the people of the region. For instance, visa facilitation agreements are now in force and we have launched discussion on roadmaps for each country with a view of visa-free travel.

In the latest Communication from the Commission on the Western Balkans, adopted on 5 March this year, we also outlined other initiatives: broader cooperation in the field of disaster preparedness and prevention, an increased number of scholarships and financial support for the civil society.

The EU's pre-accession assistance to the region amounts to € 800 million yearly. This is by far the highest per capita amount provided by us to any region in the world (= € 30 / person annually). On top of that we spend yearly ca. € 150 million for the security in the region, in BiH and in Kosovo, which means in total close to 1 billion € a year.

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The WB countries have come closer the EU over the past two years, both politically and economically. I am convinced that each of the countries can accelerate its integration with the EU.

Allow me to underline here that EU Member States have an important role to play in supporting reform efforts in the region, including by providing expertise and technical assistance, and mobilising bilateral instruments complementary to the Community ones. I count on your support and continued commitment, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I would now like to give you a brief overview of where the individual countries of the region stand on the path to membership:

Croatia has the prospects to make this year a decisive one for its accession negotiations. Provided a number of conditions are met by Croatia, in this autumn's enlargement package we will present an indicative timetable, or a conditional road map, for a technical conclusion of the negotiations during the course of next year.

To achieve this, Croatia needs to deliver on all opening benchmarks by the end of June. It includes progress on restructuring shipbuilding, judicial and administrative reforms and the fight against corruption. Croatia will also need to comply with all obligations under the SAA and ensure urgent and significant improvements in management of the EU financial assistance.

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could demonstrate its readiness to undertake negotiations by meeting the eight key priorities, such as the reform of the judiciary and implementation of the police law.

However, there is one concern, which is effectively the ninth criterion. All political leaders, activists and the people in the country should do everything necessary to ensure free and fair elections, in line with the international standards, and a peaceful electoral campaign.

Both Albania and Montenegro need to effectively implement the SAA and likewise pursue reforms with determination. In particular they should focus on areas such as the rule of law, judiciary, fight against corruption and organised crime, as well as strengthening administrative capacity.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has made recent progress, by adopting the laws related to police reform and a continued satisfactory cooperation with the International Criminal tribunal for former Yugoslavia, ICTY. The conditions for signing the SAA have been fulfilled. It will formally be done in mid-June. I hope that the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina will build on this positive momentum to accelerate reforms.

In fact, I have to say that this has been a very good day for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the presence of PM Spiric and Commission Vice-President Barrot, we started today the dialogue on visa-free travel. Compared to 8- 18 months ago, the country is doing very well. I hope it will be able to capitalise on this positive momentum.

Serbia is central for regional stability and good neighbourly relations in the Balkans. The recently signed SAA confirms the EU's commitment to the European future of the country. I welcome the success of the reform-oriented forces in the elections. I trust that the new government will pursue the country's reform agenda and its path towards the EU. (If it succeeds, the EU is ready to accelerate the country's progress on the European course, once the necessary conditions have been met.)

The EU is committed to help secure peace and stability in Kosovo and support its political and economic development, as well as progress towards the EU as part of the Western Balkans. Kosovo on its part needs to ensure its commitment to a democratic and multi-ethnic society.

Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Overall the Western Balkans is making steady, albeit uneven, progress: There are particular challenges, like the conclusion of the status process in Kosovo and the fragility of the European orientation in Serbia. But when these are overcome the region has a bright future. And that future is in the European Union.

There are positive developments, both at country and at regional level. We should soon have SAAs in place with all countries, linking the region to the EU. We also have a modernised CEFTA, which replaced some 30+ bilateral trade agreements. The Energy community is providing a framework for cooperation on energy. And the recent proposal for a Transport community treaty should help improve transport connections in the region and between the EU and its Western Balkan neighbours. Trade, energy and modern infrastructure are essential for investments, growth and job creation in the region.

It is truly positive that the region has taken increased ownership of its own regional integration – and done so in a most impressive way. This was demonstrated by the countries' ability to take the decisions needed for setting up the new Regional Cooperation Council. Regional cooperation makes sense both politically and economically. It also brings the region closer to the EU.

So, you can all see that the EU is very committed and has a comprehensive programme for development in the Western Balkans. We want to support the people of the region in opting for European values and living standards.

But in the end, it is the politicians and people of the region who will determine whether their countries, through reforms, will realise their European perspective.

I wish you the best of success in achieving this goal.

Thank you.