Conference
EU, WESTERN BALKANS AND REGIONAL STABILITY
12th November 2014, 13h00 – 14h30
Venue: Résidence Palace, Salle Polak, Rue de la Loi 155, 1040 Brussels
EU policy on the Western Balkans aims at achieving stability, security and prosperity as well as promoting transnational cooperation in a region that has suffered from devastating wars. By liberalizing their economies and reforming their political systems the respective countries demonstrate their willingness to accept European standards and become members of EU. At the recent Western Balkans Six Ministerial Conference, key governmental decision-makers agreed to coordinate their economic reform programmes with the EU Commission.
Full EU integration remains the leitmotif in the foreign relations of all six countries. Yet, as regards their domestic agendas, a whole range of crucial shortcomings have to be addressed.
Governments have to deliver on fighting corruption, boosting competitiveness, consolidating the budget, reconciling the societies and easing ethnic tensions. The violent clash in October during a football match between Serbia and Albania clearly indicates the fragility of peace and security in the region.
The prospect of EU integration has always been a main driver for reform policies in the candidate countries. When excluding any new membership within the next legislative period, the EU has to reflect on its strategy in the region. The great enlargement times have passed, yet there is a clear distinction between enlargement and neighbourhood policy. The Republic of Macedonia is caught in a quarrel over its official name and a solution has to be found in order to move forward.
Despite being candidate country since 2005, and accession negotiations been recommended by the Commission already in 2009, they have not been opened yet due to the so-called name issu.
Result-less talks led to a certain degree of frustration on all sides. The dynamism of the reform process might be a consequence of this deadlock. The EU Commission, noted that the country maintains a high level of alignment with the acquis relative to where it is in the accession process, but also stated the challenges still remain. The Republic of Macedonia remains committed and engaged under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, but the reform process has to regain momentum.
We cordially invite you to discuss Western Balkans and EU relations with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, with Members of European Parliament Alojz Peterle and Andrej Plenkovic and Director Alexandra Cas Granje from the EU Commission.
Na prvoj sjednici neformalne skupine »Pomirba europske povijesti« u novom sazivu Europskog parlamenta za predsjednicu je izabrana latvijska zastupnica Sandra Kalniete, dok je za potpredsjednika izabran hrvatski zastupnik Andrej Plenković
Nakon što su predstavili program rada skupine i prezentirali projekt Platforma europskog sjećanja i savjesti, zastupnici Kalniete i Plenković naglasili su da u ovom trenutku valja podsjetiti predsjednika Europske komisije Junckera na to da je podržao prijedlog skupine zastupnika EPP-a da se unutar djelokruga nadležnog povjerenika podigne razina svijesti o europskoj povijesti i zločinima počinjenima u totalitarnim režimima. Da bi se postigao cilj zacrtan u Rezoluciji Europskog parlamenta o europskoj savjesti i totalitarizmu od 2. travnja 2009, zaključeno je na sastanku, sve europske institucije trebaju ohrabrivati raspravu o uzrocima i posljedicama totalitarnih vladavina, jer još smo uvijek svjedoci pokušaja da se relativiziraju zločini što su ih počinili komunistički režimi u pojedinim državama srednje i istočne Europe.