"The Stability Pact has been and will remain successful," said the minister, who is an SPD member.
She stated that the Pact, which she said was initiated by the cabinet of Gerhard Schroeder, invested 1.2 billion euros, mostly in the economic development of south-eastern Europe.
"We are establishing an internal market on the Balkans, and through economic development the population is learning how it can achieve coexistence and cooperation," the German minister said pointing out the successful cross-border cooperation in the energy sector in the region.
She went on to say that there was no reason for euphoria, adding that some areas such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and Moldavia were still exposed rampant corruption, poverty and ethnic conflicts as well as a high unemployment rate.
The Stability Pact for Southeast Europe was established in 1999 with an aim of encouraging the development of the economy and democracy in that part of Europe. The pact's projects have been carried out with assistance of the European Union, NATO and the World Bank.