Concrete initiatives to support the integration of the Balkans and the strengthening of pre-accession funds for the region: these are two points contained in the European Union Strategy for the Western Balkans, presented today in Strasbourg. The document, "A credible enlargement perspective for a strengthened EU commitment in the Western Balkans", was presented today in Strasbourg by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini: "The the best, most effective and unique way to guarantee security and stability to the Western Balkans - Mogherini underlined at the press conference - is to anchor them solidly to a credible prospect of integration into the European Union ”. The Strategy contains six important initiatives to be undertaken to support the region's transformation efforts in areas of mutual concern. Measures include initiatives to strengthen the rule of law, cooperation on security and immigration through joint investigation teams and the European Border and Coast Guard, the enlargement of the Energy Union to the Western Balkans, the reduction of roaming charges, the spread of broadband in the region.
The active contribution of Italy was important, as it played a leading role in the implementation of the Strategy, according to what has been learned today from an Italian diplomatic source. The Strategy presented today in Strasbourg by the European Commission, explains the diplomatic source, is the result of the growing attention that Brussels dedicates to the region. It is a process in which Italy has played a leading role, presenting concrete proposals, reflected in the strategy, aimed at strengthening the credibility of the European perspective of the Balkans, to contribute to the stability, democratization and economic development of the region. . Among the Italian proposals are the inclusion of the Balkans in EU programs and initiatives, a more proactive EU approach to promote reforms in the area of the rule of law, the fight against organized crime and corruption, as well as the focus on infrastructure and connectivity.
As underlined by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, “investing in the stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans means investing in the security and future of the European Union. Although there will be no further enlargements under this mandate - he said - today the European Commission is tracing the European path for the Western Balkans. With strong political will, real reforms and definitive solutions to disputes with neighboring countries, the Western Balkans can move forward on their respective European paths. Whether this will be achieved - he added - will depend on their objective merits. The European Commission will be strict but it will also be fair. I will travel to each of the Western Balkan countries at the end of this month with a clear message: keep reforming and we will continue to support your European future ”.
Six initiatives are presented today, with concrete actions planned for the period between 2018 and 2020. In the field of the rule of law, the aim is to extend action plans for alignment with EU standards to all the Western Balkans. Evaluation of the implementation of reforms will also be strengthened, including through new advisory missions. As regards security and immigration, the aim is to strengthen joint cooperation in the fight against organized crime, terrorism and violent extremism, as well as improving border security and migration management with the help of tools and competences of the EU. The EU also wants to strengthen coordination with EU agencies on border security and migration management. On the economic side, efforts will be made to support development with greater financial guarantees for private investments, support for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as to facilitate trade. Greater attention will be given to employment and social policies, with increased financial assistance in support of the social sector, particularly in the fields of education and health.
Funding under the Erasmus + program will also be doubled. On the transport and energy side, initiatives are planned in the region and with the EU, and the possibility of extending the EU Energy Union to the region. Projects for the digital agenda are also planned, including the adoption of a timetable to reduce roaming costs and support the roll-out of broadband. The strategy presented today confirms the strengthening of the Union's commitment to support the stability of the Western Balkans. "Few countries like Italy - Mogherini underlined during the press conference - know that the prospect of all the Balkans to join the European Union is in the interest of the member states of the European Union first of all". Mogherini cited above all three sectors "in which it is crucial to guarantee this prospect of integration". The sector of “economic relations, investments, the development of trade but also of the work of the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises”.
A focus also on safety management. “The countries of the Western Balkans - underlined Mogherini - are surrounded by the member states of the Union. A security problem in one of the countries, or in several countries of the Western Balkans, automatically becomes a security problem for the European Union and for its citizens ”. "The best, most effective and unique way to guarantee security and stability in the Western Balkans - said the EU head of diplomacy - is to firmly anchor them to a credible prospect of integration into the European Union". Mogherini recalled that the Balkans is a region that, only up to twenty years ago, has known more wars. "The common sense of perspective towards the European Union - said Mogherini - guarantees a balance and hard work towards reconciliation and the construction of shared memories, which can guarantee peaceful coexistence". The head of EU diplomacy noted that there are also "common external challenges", such as "the phenomenon of radicalization and the return of foreign fighters, which will need to be managed" more and more "together, with cooperation mechanisms" in the field security.
Finally, Mogherini gives a third example, taken from the recent past. “Two years ago - he recalled - we held several summits, at different levels, in which member states and non-member states of the Western Balkans gathered around the same table to jointly manage the flow of refugees from Syria to Europe. At that moment - he said - I think we all understood very well that we are on the same continent ”. The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, commented on the document underlining how "the Western Balkans are part of Europe and we should give it a European perspective for the prosperity and stability of the region", hoping that countries like Serbia and Montenegro "can unite by 2025 "to the EU. According to what was communicated by the European Commission, for the implementation of the Strategy, the EU executive inter alia proposes to further increase, in a gradual manner, the funding under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) until 2020, in the to the extent that the reallocation of resources within the current coverage allows this. In 2018 alone, € 1,07 billion of pre-accession assistance is already planned for the Western Balkans, in addition to almost € 9 billion for the period 2007-2017.
The Strategy also outlines the steps that must be taken by Montenegro and Serbia to complete the accession process between now and 2025. This perspective, according to the Commission, will ultimately depend on political will, the implementation of real reforms and the definitive solutions to disputes with neighboring countries. The strategy also makes it clear that all Western Balkan countries have a chance to move forward on their respective EU integration paths, and that the Commission evaluates all countries fairly and objectively on their merits in the alignment path. to the EU. Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom), according to the European Commission, are making significant progress on their European path. The strategy makes it clear that the Commission is ready to prepare recommendations for the opening of accession negotiations, based on the fulfillment of the required conditions.
The Commission will start preparing an opinion on Bosnia and Herzegovina's application for membership after receiving complete replies to its questionnaire. With sustained effort and commitment, Bosnia and Herzegovina could become a candidate for membership. Kosovo, finally concludes the Commission, has the opportunity to make sustainable progress through the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (ASA), and to progress on its European path as soon as objective circumstances permit. The Commission also specifies that it will present the possibility of further improving the use of qualified majority voting in the third quarter of 2018, as announced by Juncker in his State of the Union address. Finally, for the EU executive, special agreements should also be prepared to ensure that future member states cannot block the accession of other candidate countries from the Western Balkans.
Source Agency Nova