Vol. 514 No. 4
42 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure that the EU stability pact for the Balkans, drawn up after the Kosovo crisis and agreed in principle, is put into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4316/00]
The stability pact for South East Europe, an initiative of the European Union, was formally launched at a meeting of heads of Government in Sarajevo in July last. It represents the collective effort of the European Union, the G8 countries, the countries of the region and key international organisations to address the challenges of south eastern Europe in a co-ordinated and strategic manner.
The pact aims at strengthening the countries in south eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity in order to achieve stability in the whole region.
The pact works through a regional table, chaired by a special co-ordinator, currently Mr. Bodo Hombach of Germany, and three working tables. These are table 1 which deals with issues of democratisation and human rights; table 2 which deals with economic reconstruction, developments and co-operation and table 3 which deals with security issues.
The regional table and all three working tables met during last autumn and agreed the outlines of a work programme in their specialised areas. Work on these programmes with a view to identifying suitable projects for implementation under the pact has been going on in various task forces and other specialised groups over the last few months and it is expected that the second round of meetings of the working tables which are being held this month will further refine the work programmes and agree a number of projects which will receive the support of the stability pact. A financing conference is due to be held at the end of March to raise financial support of the approved projects.
