Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:100 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which he has influenced matters in the Balkans during Ireland’s EU Presidency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18960/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 24 June 2004
Ceisteanna (103)
Freagraí scríofa
The EU has taken the lead role in working with the countries of the Western Balkans to consolidate peace and stability in the region. At the start of Ireland's Presidency, the Government undertook to maintain the priority which the EU attaches to the Western Balkans and the momentum in bringing the region closer to the European Union. The situation in the region was considered by the European Council and at each of the monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council which I chaired during Ireland's Presidency. I remained in close contact with the countries of the region, with other member states, High Representative Javier Solana, Commissioner Patten and representatives of the wider international community to ensure that the EU made an effective contribution over the past six months to peace in the region and reform based on European standards.
The EU-Western Balkans Summit, held in Thessaloniki in June last year, agreed a shared agenda for progress towards the objective of the eventual integration of the countries of the region into EU structures. Progress will be based on the fulfilment of agreed, objective political and economic criteria. In its capacity as Presidency, Ireland worked to strengthen this policy framework, which provides for individual progress by the countries of the region, in the context of closer regional co-operation. On 18 June, the European Council, meeting in Brussels, decided on the basis of the Commission opinion that Croatia is a candidate country for membership of the EU, and that accession negotiations will begin in early 2005. On 22 March, the Taoiseach, in his capacity as President of the European Council, accepted the application for membership of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at a ceremony in Dublin. In May, the General Affairs and External Relations Council requested the Commission to prepare its opinion on the application, for consideration by the Council. I believe that these important policy decisions underline the seriousness of the EU's approach to the countries of the region and that they should be an encouragement to persevere with the reform process and with the implementation of European standards.
In introducing the Irish Presidency last January, I stated that we would work for the implementation of all commitments made by the EU under the Thessaloniki agenda. This has been achieved through a series of important Council decisions, most notably the decision this month to adopt European partnerships for each of the countries of the region. The partnerships draw on the experience of the current enlargement process and set out the specific areas in which each of the countries needs to make progress to enable further movement in the integration process. We have also implemented the commitment to enhance political dialogue with the countries of the Western Balkans. Last week in Luxembourg, for instance, I chaired the first ever meeting of an EU ministerial Troika with Serbia and Montenegro. I also chaired Troika meetings during the Presidency with the Foreign Ministers of Croatia and of Albania.
The European Council last week adopted a comprehensive policy towards Bosnia and Herzegovina, which sets out practical arrangements for strengthening the coherence and effectiveness of the EU's involvement in Bosnia. Throughout the Presidency, Ireland has facilitated important practical steps for the possible transition from the UN-mandated, NATO-led SFOR peacekeeping force in Bosnia to an EU-led force. I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Irish citizens working with the EU and international organisations throughout the Western Balkans, and would note in the Bosnian context the important contribution being made by assistant Garda commissioner, Kevin Carty, who was appointed head of the EU police mission in Bosnia by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 23 February.
The Council paid close attention to the situation in Kosovo throughout the Presidency, especially in the aftermath of the outbreak of ethnic violence in Kosovo in March, which was discussed in detail at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in Tullamore on 16 April. The EU has reaffirmed its strong support for the UN mission in Kosovo and for the special representative of the UN Secretary General in their efforts to implement Security Council Resolution 1244. The Council has stressed its firm commitment to the policy of Standards before Status and to the standards implementation process. It has made it clear that in this difficult period Kosovo's political leaders must demonstrate unambiguously their commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo and to the protection of the security and rights of minority communities. It is important that all parties co-operate in order to achieve practical results from the standards process in the coming months. At our meeting last week, I encouraged the Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Vuk Draskovic, to use the influence of the Belgrade authorities to encourage the representatives of the Kosovo Serb population to re-engage with the UN in dialogue on reconstruction, security and the restructuring of local government, in the interests of all the people of Kosovo. The European Council last week welcomed the announcement by the UN Secretary General that he intends to appoint the current EU special representative in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Soren Jessen-Petersen, as his special representative in Kosovo, to replace Harri Holkeri, who has resigned for health reasons. The EU will co-operate closely with the new special representative. We have also begun consideration of ways in which the EU can strengthen its role in Kosovo in support of the standards process, and I hope that decisions will be taken by the Council in the coming months.
Progress in the development of relations with the EU has been slowest in Serbia and Montenegro and in Albania, in each case as a result of continuing political instability. In its capacity as Presidency, Ireland has ensured that the EU's political message has been conveyed clearly with the emphasis on the credibility of the European perspective offered to the people of the Western Balkans. I hope that it will prove possible to conclude a stabilisation and association agreement with Albania during 2005, based on the implementation of the necessary reforms. I also hope that following the contentious Presidential elections in Serbia on 27 June, the authorities of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro will seize the opportunity to re-engage in the reform process. The EU wants to negotiate with an effectively functioning state union, with a view to early progress in bringing Serbia and Montenegro closer to the Union, based on the commitments entered into at Thessaloniki last year.
Question No. 101 answered with QuestionNo. 53.