Paris, 19 May 2010 – The European Security and Defence Assembly / Assembly of Western European Union held a colloquy on “Current developments in the western Balkans” in cooperation with the Croatian Parliament (Sabor) in Zagreb on Tuesday 18 May 2010.

The colloquy was opened by Mr Ivan JARNJAK, Deputy Speaker of the Sabor, Mr Robert WALTER MP, President of the ESDA/WEU Assembly, and Mr Zdenko FRANIC, Chairman of the Croatian Delegation.

The keynote speaker was Mr Andrej PLENKOVIC, State Secretary for European Integration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who paid tribute to the work of the WEU Assembly in scrutinising EU security and defence policy and underlined the crucial role of the national parliaments. He recalled that Croatia had joined NATO on 1 April 2009 and aimed to join the EU in the course of 2012. Ten years after the Zagreb Summit, Croatia would continue to lead the way for the region’s European aspirations. As a gesture of good neighbourly relations, the Croatian Prime Minister, Mrs Jadranka KOSOR, had passed on the translation into Croatian of the EU acquis to all other prime ministers of the region. He expressed the hope that the forthcoming ministerial conference in Sarajevo would give further impetus to the integration of the countries of south-eastern Europe into the European Union.

Mr Franco MATUSIC, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament, and Mr Davor VIDIS, Director General for Neighbouring Countries and South Eastern Europe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Croatia, also took an active part in the colloquy.

Top officials responsible for EU operations in the western Balkans attended the morning session of the colloquy.

Mr Roy REEVE, Deputy Head of EULEX KOSOVO, emphasised that non-EU countries (such as Canada, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States) were participating in the mission which had an “executive mandate” designed to establish a strong rule-of-law structure. EULEX undertook “mentoring, monitoring and advising” activities designed to help Kosovo move closer towards European police and justice standards. Next month the EULEX mandate would in principle be renewed for three years and KFOR would start downsizing. In this context, it was particularly important to increase the EULEX presence in the northern region of Kosovo.

Major General Bernhard BAIR, Commander of EUFOR ALTHEA, recalled that liaison and observation teams were the “eyes and ears” of the EUFOR ALTHEA mission, enabling it to make regular assessments of the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2 000 troops were currently based in BiH with the mandate to contribute to a safe and secure environment. Increasing efforts were being made to assist the domestic authorities in assuming full ownership of issues formerly dealt with by EUFOR. Although the political situation had been deteriorating for the last three years, the security situation remained stable. It was important to look to the future and to BiH’s aspiration to join NATO and the EU.

According to Colonel Antonio José MENDES DE OLIVEIRA, EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Head of the Policy Office, the 2008 police reform had paved the way for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). The visa dialogue acted as a catalyst in seeking solutions to the country’s complex policing problems. Security sector reform had been implemented but there were still challenges ahead. The new police structure had to be consolidated to enable it to build a track record in the fight against organised crime and corruption.

During the debate, questions were raised by Mrs Betty WILLIAMS (United Kingdom) on trafficking, Mr Yves POZZO DI BORGO (France) on NATO and EU accession, Mr Piero FASSINO (Italy) on the situation in northern Kosovo and in BiH, Mr Tarmo KOUTS (Estonia) on the black market and Mr Leon KIERES (Poland) on public opinion in the western Balkans.

The afternoon session was devoted to the way ahead towards integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures. Mr Pieter FEITH, EU Special Representative in Kosovo, and H.E. Michael Louis GIFFONI, Italian Ambassador to Kosovo, were present, as well as high-ranking officials and parliamentarians from countries of the region. Participants were grouped into two panels: Panel I (Albania, Croatia, Serbia), chaired by Rapporteur and Chairman of the Political Committee, Mr Piero FASSINO (Italy, Socialist Group), and Panel II (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro), chaired by the Chairman of the Parliamentary and Public Relations Committee, Mr Paul WILLE (Belgium, Liberal Group).

H.E. Mrs Edith HARXHI, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Albania, pointed out that Albania was already a NATO member, had signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU and had the previous year applied for EU membership. In addition, Mr Fatos BEJA, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Parliament of Albania, stressed the importance of regional cooperation.

Mr FEITH declared that it was up to the people of Kosovo to decide their future. A new phase was about to begin. Rather than focusing on the issues between Serbia and Kosovo that could not be discussed, it was time to start looking at those that could be. It was important for the EU to continue to support Kosovo’s stabilisation and development. It was necessary to be “critical and robust in setting the standards”, but at the same time “tireless and sincere in exemplifying the ideals”.

Ambassador GIFFONI stressed the need to ensure stability in the region through regional cooperation. In the northern part of Kosovo, the EU had increased its day to day presence to support stability, development and good governance as well as the rule of law, so that the status issue assumed less prominence than in the past. It was also crucial to keep alive the prospect of EU integration for the countries of south-eastern Europe.

During the debate, questions were raised by Lord ANDERSON (United Kingdom) on the refugee issue, Mr Doug HENDERSON (United Kingdom) on EU integration, Mr John GREENWAY (United Kingdom) on public opinion with regard to the security benefits of EU integration and Mr Leon KIERES (Poland) on public procurement legislation.

Mr Borislav STEFANOVIC, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Serbia, explained that Serbia’s National Assembly had adopted a resolution on 31 March 2010 condemning “the crime committed against the Bosnian population in Srebrenica in July 1995”. Serbia had to “move forward”. It stood for peace and reconciliation and was firmly resolved to follow the path of EU integration.

Mr Slavko MATIC, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, underlined the urgent need for constitutional reform which would be the priority following the next general election, to be held in autumn 2010.

Dr Sabri HAMITI, Chairman of Foreign Affairs, Kosovo, said that 22 out of 27 EU countries (the exceptions were Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain) had so far recognised Kosovo. The fight against corruption had brought results and important legislation had been passed, particularly in the economic field. Nevertheless Serbia’s support to the northern part of Kosovo was still causing problems for the Kosovo authorities.

Ms Vesna NIKCECIC, First Counsellor, Embassy of Montenegro to Croatia, stressed that EU integration was Montenegro’s main priority.

Mr FASSINO concluded the colloquy by stressing that there were still disputes which exposed the region to new risks of tension and a resurgence of nationalism. He called for the EU integration process for the western Balkan states to be speeded up and for the EU to put forward a clear “roadmap” for the integration of the western Balkans into the European structures, setting out the stages of the process, with conditional benchmarks, and a firm and verifiable timetable.

The findings of the colloquy provide input for the parliamentary report to be submitted to the Assembly on behalf of the Political Committee by Mr FASSINO at the 58th session of the ESDA, to take place at the Palais d’Iéna in Paris from Tuesday 15 to Thursday 17 June.