PORTO CARRAS, June 20 (Hina) - European Union countries' heads on Friday adopted the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans, a document which confirms the European prospects of Western Balkan countries and includes priority tasks
which they have to carry out to join the EU.
PORTO CARRAS, June 20 (Hina) - European Union countries' heads on
Friday adopted the Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans, a
document which confirms the European prospects of Western Balkan
countries and includes priority tasks which they have to carry out
to join the EU. #L#
Support to the Western Balkans in preparations for future
integration into European structures and, in the end, into the EU is
a high priority for the Union, reads the document which EU officials
adopted at a summit in Porto Carras, 100 km south of Thessaloniki.
The document says the pace of further drawing closer of the five
countries included in the Stabilisation and Association process
(SAp) depends on them and on their individual results in the
implementation of reforms, compliance with Copenhagen criteria and
SAp conditions.
EU officials urge Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia-
Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania to fully support the work of the
International Criminal Court (ICC) and the integrity of its
Statute, in line with relevant EU decisions.
The five countries are also asked to fully cooperate with the UN war
crimes tribunal in The Hague (ICTY), particularly regarding the
extradition of all war crimes indictees and ensuring access to
documents.
The EU supports the activities and initiatives of the Western
Balkan countries which promote social cohesion, ethnic and
religious tolerance, multiculturalism, the return of refugees and
displaced persons, and the struggle against nationalism.
Each of the five SAp countries will be offered a "European
partnership", on the model of the access partnership given EU
candidates, which will identify priorities for support to efforts
to join the EU.
The priorities will reflect the various degrees of development of
each country and will be adjusted to their specific needs.
The countries of the region will be asked to draw up national plans
for implementing the partnership process.
The European Council has granted an additional EUR200 million for
the CARDS programme for the period 2004-6.
The European Council urges countries included in the SAp to
continue advancing regional cooperation, sign bilateral
agreements on free trade by the end of the year, consider the
possibility of cancelling visa requirements for countries in the
region, and to continue the fight against organised crime,
trafficking in people and illegal migrations.
(hina) lml