Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2010
360 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the Dutch Government in its call for non-ratification of the EU’s stabilisation and association agreement with Serbia until such time as Ratko Mladic is arrested and transferred to the Hague for trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25311/10]
View answerTogether with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the Western Balkans. A significant factor in building this is the EU perspective of the countries in the region. The June 2003 European Council in Thessalonika agreed that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans was in the EU.
The European Union's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) process provides the framework for cooperation on economic, political and legal matters aimed at bringing the Western Balkan countries towards EU standards and principles in order to meet EU accession requirements.
The General Affairs Council (GAC) of 7/8 December 2009 considered the Commission's comprehensive report of 14 October 2009 on progress made in Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Kosovo. The Council reaffirmed its full support for the European perspective of these Western Balkan countries, which remains essential for stability and reconciliation in the region. The Council stated that, by making solid progress in economic and political reform and by fulfilling the necessary conditions and requirements, the remaining potential candidates in the Western Balkans should achieve candidate status, according to their own merits.
Cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) is a precondition for all the States of the region in their Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the EU. Having considered the Chief Prosecutor's report on Serbia's cooperation with the Tribunal, the December Council decided by consensus to implement the Interim Agreement with Serbia, which covers the trade aspects of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The Council further agreed to turn to the issue of ratification of the SAA in six months' time.
Serbia has made some significant conciliatory gestures recently and this deserves acknowledgement. Notable amongst these was the declaration by the Serbian Parliament in March condemning the Srebrenica massacre. Relations between Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina have also improved of late, with the assistance of Turkey as facilitator. In February, Bosnia appointed an Ambassador to Serbia for the first time in three years. Serbia is very important in terms of encouraging constructive reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere in the broader region.
The Foreign Affairs Council of 14 June heard a further assessment on Serbia's cooperation with the ICTY. Ministers agreed to submit the Stabilisation and Association Agreement to their national parliaments for ratification. The Council underlined that full cooperation with the ICTY remains a central element of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement process.
Ireland will continue to monitor developments on this issue. Together with our EU partners we remain committed to influencing positively the situation in the Western Balkans. We will do everything possible to ensure lasting stability in the countries of the region.
