ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) - Germany's recent regional initiative on Southeast Europe should not be viewed entirely benignly or overstated either, well-informed Croatian diplomatic circles have said after the publication of a so-called
non-paper on EU's relations with Europe's south-east. "It should not be claimed that it is an entirely benign text for Croatia. Croatia should be aware of the hazards behind proposals of certain regional initiatives. But one should neither give in to hysterics and give certain initiatives unwarranted interpretations," a Croatian diplomat said on Monday. Germany's Joschka Fischer outlined a non-paper on the EU's policy towards the Western Balkans at an informal meeting of European Union foreign ministers last weekend. Two thirds of the text refer to the situation in Macedonia, while the third refers to the regional process in Southeast Europe. The text calls for an evolving
ZAGREB, Sept 10 (Hina) - Germany's recent regional initiative on
Southeast Europe should not be viewed entirely benignly or
overstated either, well-informed Croatian diplomatic circles have
said after the publication of a so-called non-paper on EU's
relations with Europe's south-east.
"It should not be claimed that it is an entirely benign text for
Croatia. Croatia should be aware of the hazards behind proposals of
certain regional initiatives. But one should neither give in to
hysterics and give certain initiatives unwarranted
interpretations," a Croatian diplomat said on Monday.
Germany's Joschka Fischer outlined a non-paper on the EU's policy
towards the Western Balkans at an informal meeting of European
Union foreign ministers last weekend. Two thirds of the text refer
to the situation in Macedonia, while the third refers to the
regional process in Southeast Europe.
The text calls for an evolving regional process that would include
different ethnic groups, on an individual basis and with an
appropriate approach. The sponsor believes the main issues in
Europe's south-east are among ethnic groups within states, and not
among the states themselves.
Fischer has envisaged three stages for the process. The first would
be a ministerial conference, a sort of sequel to last year's Zagreb
Summit, which would pool EU members, all countries in the region,
and members of the Contact Group.
The conference should reaffirm the Helsinki principles as the
foundation of the entire regional process, and create working
tables and task forces that would address transborder issues. All
three Stability Pact for Southeast Europe working tables should be
fully made use of.
The second stage would see a synergy functioning of the Stability
Pact working tables and the newly-established task forces that
would include representatives of ethnic groups, minorities, and
non-governmental organisations. The aim would be to strengthen
confidence and provide concrete forms of regional cooperation.
According to the Croatian source, therein lies a contentious non-
paper sentence - activating the regional approach in the EU's
Stabilisation and Association Process and thus forming a joint
Western Balkans economic region that could be called EEA II
(European Economic Area II).
"That is a sentence that definitely calls for an additional
explanation as Croatia has reason to be cautious towards regional
initiatives for Europe's Southeast. The context, however, should
also be borne in mind, and that is the Stabilisation and Association
Process, which does not aim to distance the region from Europe,
quite the opposite. This is also seen in the proposal's name,
European Economic Area, and not... Balkan Economic Area, although
the division into EEA I and EEA II isn't good," the source said.
The third stage of the regional process could begin after task
forces have achieved concrete results and confidence has
increased. This stage would address the resolving of open status
issues.
(hina) ha sb