BRUSSELS, July 10 (Hina) - European Union member-countries' Foreign Ministers on Monday supported a proposal of France, which is currently holding the EU rotating presidency, that Croatia host a summit of EU and western Balkan
countries in November. According to French Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, the purpose of such a meeting will be to clarify the guidelines of the EU long-term policy in the stabilisation of the western Balkans as well as reciprocal engagement of the EU with each country in that part of Europe. Hence, the EU will confirm the principle that the admission in to the EU of each country depends on its own progress in accomplishing objectives of political and economic reforms, Vedrine stressed. Conditions and certain stages in each country's bids to come closer to the EU must be explicit, he added. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook also supported the idea of organising the summit. Cook,
BRUSSELS, July 10 (Hina) - European Union member-countries'
Foreign Ministers on Monday supported a proposal of France, which
is currently holding the EU rotating presidency, that Croatia host
a summit of EU and western Balkan countries in November.
According to French Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine, the purpose
of such a meeting will be to clarify the guidelines of the EU long-
term policy in the stabilisation of the western Balkans as well as
reciprocal engagement of the EU with each country in that part of
Europe.
Hence, the EU will confirm the principle that the admission in to
the EU of each country depends on its own progress in accomplishing
objectives of political and economic reforms, Vedrine stressed.
Conditions and certain stages in each country's bids to come closer
to the EU must be explicit, he added.
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook also supported the idea of
organising the summit. Cook, however, advised that the summit be
organised in a manner that it could produce concrete results rather
than being only a ceremony.
Cook voiced hope that there would be progress in negotiations
between Croatia and the EU on the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement.
The Briton proposed that the summit also be attended by some
countries-candidates for the entry into the EU, which should have
interest in it due to their minorities in Yugoslavia
(Serbia/Montenegro) such as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and the
Czech Republic.
In line to the French proposal, that EU-western Balkans summit
should draw officials of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,
Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and the Serbian opposition, while
Slovenia's participation is still an open question.
Commenting on short-term plans of France while it chairs the EU,
Vedrine said the EU would give backing to the evident democratic
progress made by Croatia since the beginning of this year.
The intention of the French chairmanship is that the EU Council of
Ministers endorses very soon guidelines for negotiations with
Croatia on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, Vedrine
added.
(hina) jn ms