EU ministers turn to Balkans

EU foreign ministers will focus on the Western Balkans at an informal summit in Salzburg.

EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn told reporters the two day summit - that kicks off on Friday - comes at a crucial time for the Western Balkans.

“This year is very much the crucial year for the region,” the Finnish commissioner stressed to journalists.

“Challenges over Kosovo, Montenegro and co-operation with the ICTY are all priorities. We should aim at solving them all one by one so that we can work with a clean table from the burdens of the past.”

“Salzburg will be about taking stock of the decisions taken at the Thessaloniki summit in June 2003. We will ask what has been done since then and weigh up the next steps.”

The Austrian EU presidency has committed to offering a “clear European perspective” to the countries of south-east Europe in line with the so-called Thessaloniki agenda.

On Saturday talks will unite EU ministers with counterparts from Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro and Albania.

Visa facilitation

The EU executive’s commitment to the so-called “Europeanisation of youth” will also be on the table in Salzburg – in the form of visa facilitation schemes.

“70 per cent of Serbian youths have never been abroad,” Rehn explained. 

“This is a strikingly negative statistic. We are working to enhance cheaper and easier access through visa facilitation.”

But unease over the security of a more liberal visa regime has lead to questions in several member states.

“The visa facilitation scheme we have in mind will be secure and should not be seen in light of huge waves of immigrants coming into the EU as is so often the case,” Rehn hit back.

“I am aware there are sensitivities in member states but our overall goal is still to enhance visa facilitation.”

More cooperation

A draft-declaration emerging from Salzburg will also encourage the Balkans to enhance co-operation with the ICTY.

“We will have to call off the next round of talks with Serbia Montengro if there is no progress,” the EU enlargement chief reiterated.

“There has been certain progress in recent weeks but there needs to be full co-operation and Serbian leaders must turn will into action.”

The EU has made repeated demands for the arrest of war crimes fugitive General Ratko Mladic.

Mladic is believed to have enjoyed high-level protection since his indictment for war crimes in 1995.

Entry talks

The five Balkan countries are at different levels of relations with the EU.

Macedonia acquired a status of EU candidate-country but it was not given a date for launch of entry talks.

Croatia began entry talks in 2005.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro began talks on the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) late last year.

After three years of dialogue, Brussels completed SAA negotiations with Albania in February this year.

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