Verklaring van de EU over de westelijke Balkanstaten (en)

Western Balkans – fostering the integration momentum, Gymnich - Hluboká nad Vltavou

• 1. 

  The representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union, the candidate countries, the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans, the Secretary General of the Council/High Representative, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and the European Commissioner for External Relations met in Hluboká nad Vltavou on the 28 March 2009 on the occasion of the informal Foreign Ministers’ meeting. The EU Special Representative for Kosovo, the EUSR/HR for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EUSR/HoD for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Kosovo and the General Secretary of the Regional Cooperation Council were also present.
• 2. 

  Participants reconfirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkans as set out in the Stabilisation and Association Process, the Thessaloniki Agenda, the 2006 Salzburg Declaration and the 2008 Brdo Statement. They acknowledged that each country's progress towards the European Union must be based on individual merits and rigorous conditionality, guiding the necessary political and economic reforms.
• 3. 

  The participants agreed that the economic downturn in Europe calls for even closer cooperation between the EU, IFIs and the Western Balkan countries. The EU has shown solidarity with the countries of the region, by including them in the EU Recovery Plan to support their economic stability and development, or by cooperating with them during the recent gas crisis.
• 4. 

  Stabilisation and Association Agreements have been signed with five Western Balkan countries and Interim Agreements are in force with them. On 1 April 2009, Albania will become the third country (after Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement in force. The Interim Agreement/Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia is pending on its full cooperating with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The participants agreed that an early implementation of the Interim Agreement is in the interest of the EU, Serbia and the wider region.
• 5. 

  The Stabilisation and Association Process remains an effective and comprehensive tool for preparing the Western Balkan countries for accession.  The progress of the Western Balkan countries towards EU membership can be accelerated provided they meet the necessary conditions.
• 6. 

  The participants discussed ways of fostering the European perspective of Kosovo in the context of the Stabilisation and Association process. In this respect, they look forward to the Commission’s study to be presented in autumn 2009. The participants agreed on the need to ensure Kosovo’s full involvement in regional initiatives and international fora in a constructive manner.
• 7. 

  Strengthening people to people contacts represents a tangible benefit of the European integration for the citizens of the Western Balkans. The participants stressed that a visa free regime should be established with all Western Balkan countries when the conditions defined in the visa liberalisation dialogue Roadmaps are met. They also agreed that student and young professional exchanges represent a particular contribution to fostering harmony and overcoming prejudice among the people of the Western Balkans.
• 8. 

  Regional co-operation among the Western Balkan countries is a key element of the Stabilisation and Association Process. It contributes to a shared understanding in the region and to finding solutions for issues of common interest, such as in the fields of energy, transport, trade, fight against organised crime and corruption, refugee return and border control. In this context, the participants commended the first year of work of the Regional Cooperation Council and reiterated that regional cooperation needed to be inclusive.
• 9. 

  The EU presence in the Western Balkans within the ESDP framework is an essential part of the EU´s comprehensive approach. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the operation EUFOR ALTHEA proved to be a significant contribution to stability and security in the country, together with the police mission EUPM aimed at supporting the development of an effective police system. In Kosovo, the EU rule of law mission EULEX successfully started its activities last year. This largest ESDP civilian mission ever launched confirms the importance of the region as a key priority for the EU. Sustaining a favorable security situation is a necessary condition for achieving progress on the way of European integration.