Kosovo is the latest, and no doubt the last state in the western Balkans to declare itself independent, and anybody who followed developments there between the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and NATO’s intervention in 1999 will doubtless agree that it was inevitable. With Kosovo’s breakaway from Serbia the last piece of the post-communist, post-Yugoslavic puzzle has been put into place. The status quo of Kosovo was no longer manageable, and further delay could only worsen matters. The best way of ensuring regional peace and stability, while also lifting Kosovo out of its eight-year limbo − with an exhausted UN administration, an undeveloped, low-growth economy and crippling unemployment rate − was to break the stalemate. After the international community’s missed opportunity to clarify the issue of Kosovo’s status after the Milosevic genocide, we have now closed the last chapter of Yugoslavia’s dismemberment and can look forward to seeing how this small country will take its fate into its own hands.
We would all, of course, have wished that Pristina and Belgrade could have found a compromise solution on the status issue. The EU turned every stone in the negotiation between both parties, but unfortunately without result. It had to take a decision and start to orchestrate a peaceful transition culminating into the most sustainable solution for Kosovo and the region: the supervised independence as predicted in the plan drawn up by Marti Ahtisaari, the UN’s special envoy to Kosovo.
Kosovo has a weak justice system and the EU will work with local judges and prosecutors, the police and other partners to establish a demonstrably independent and multi-ethnic system that respects the human rights of all communities. On February 16 an EU-led international justice mission was launched. It has two elements: one, called EULEX, concerned with the rule of law (justice, police, customs) and which will oversee the reform of the criminal justice system; and the other to oversee the implementation of the Ahtisaari plan. Ahtisaari offers a recipe for the creation of a multi-ethnic and decentralised society, which perfectly suits the EU’s multi-ethnic project for the western Balkans. It offers the Kosovo Serbs extensive rights, and privileged relations with Serbia, and Serbia the chance to accept that its future is not in Kosovo, but together with Kosovo in the European family.
Once the EU mission takes over the mandate from the UNMIK administration by the end of a four-month transit period, it aims to help the Kosovo's authorities in the running of the state, rather than running it for them. But over war crimes and other serious crimes the mission will take responsibility for any prosecution and will have the last word. It is of great importance that, from the start, EULUX, the rule of law mission, should gain the trust and cooperation of all the communities, including the Kosovo Serbs.
A partition of Kosovo along the Ibar river, envisaged by some nationalist Serb politicians, is unacceptable. It would not be beneficial for the future of Kosovo, nor for the future of Kosovo Serbs, some 50,000 of whom live in the north, with around 80,000 living elsewhere in the country. The partition of Kosovo into Serb and Albanian entities would harm the regional stability and endanger multi-ethnicity in neighbouring countries.
Parallel to the mission’s assistance to Kosovo it should also pay special attention to political and social developments in its biggest neighbour, Serbia. I deeply regret the polarisation of Serb political parties over European integration. I hope that all the political parties will soon realise that only through cooperation and constructive political dialogue between them, and with the EU, they will overcome their differences and achieve the economic and social standards they have promised the people of Serbia. In the parliamentary elections in May Serbian citizens will have to choose between a European future or the risk of self-imposed isolation, which does not lead anywhere.
The relationship between Serbia and the EU should not depend on the EU’s position over Kosovo. I hope that the political powers in Serbia will soon accept that the Kosovo issue belongs to the past and it should not prevent Serbia from developing its relations with the EU. The Union has not changed its policy towards Belgrade and wants to see both Serbia and Kosovo as its full members. This is in the interest of all the Serbian people, especially the generations that will eventually run the country. The EU hopes to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia as soon as possible.
With all eyes on Kosovo and Serbia we should not forget that challenges lie ahead in their neighbouring countries. After the tragic events of the past decade the western Balkans are in need of major political, economic and social reforms. The EU offers the region guaranteed progress and democratisation. It stands for tolerance, human rights, the acceptance of cultural diversity and offers security, prosperity, rule of law and economic development for its member states. The EU has several times assured the states of the western Balkans of its willingness to move forward in the pre-accession process. The EU’s relationship to them is shifting more and more from that of teacher-student towards an equal partnership. But big challenges still lie ahead in the areas of rule of law, good governance, judicial and administrative reforms
Education is particularly important in the countries of the region with their very young populations. Without good education it would not be possible to overcome the difficulties of the past, reach reconciliation among peoples of different entities and create sustainable growth. Among other moves, the EU is willing to increase the number of scholarships for students in Erasmus, the programme to increase the quality of higher education in Europe, and to increase the activities of the European Commission’s Youth in Action programme.
The EU is talking to the region’s countries about moves to end visas. Discussions started with Serbia in January and with Macedonia in February, with Albania and Bosnia to follow soon. I consider a visa-free regime for the western Balkans, ending a restriction on travel to the rest of Europe, of paramount importance, particularly for young people, the driving force in society, who will one day lead their countries.
The EU is the biggest donor and trade partner in the region but more investment is needed. The region’s countries have high unemployment, contributing to organised crime and human trafficking, illegal migration to EU countries and general insecurity in the region itself. More needs to be done to promote tourism, to develop the energy sector, to extend infrastructure and improve transportation.
Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are essential for countries seeking to join the European family. The EU welcomes the achievements of the region’s Stability Pact, and its successor the Regional Co-operation Council. Personally, I think that the EU needs to speed up its plans to bring all western Balkans states into the family, although obviously membership depends on a country’s performance in various areas. Croatia, a promising candidate for accession, could motivate other states in the western Balkans s to meet the political, judicial and economic conditions for joining the EU. The EU granted Macedonia candidate status in December 2005 and it is hoped that accession negotiations will be opened in the near future. Albania has maintained a balanced position on the Kosovo issue, contributing to regional stability. The EU has noted an improvement in Albania’s economy and that judicial and electoral reforms are expected soon, with the fight continuing against corruption and organised crime. The progress achieved by Montenegro since its independence in June 2006 has resulted in the signing of an SAA with the EU. Bosnia and Herzegovina will each get an SAA when their political leaders agree on police reform.
The future of all the countries in the western Balkans lies in the European family and accompanying them towards the path of the European integration will remain the EU's long term commitment. Without the western Balkans on board Europe will never be complete.