PARIS, Nov 24 (Hina) - Addressing an inter-parliamentary forum in Paris on stabilisation and reconstruction in the Balkans, French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Moscovici outlined on Wednesday a series of concrete details on a
new type of agreement the European Union (EU) should propose to countries of the so called Western Balkans, and which is called Agreement on Stabilisation and Association. Moscovici said the countries in the Western Balkans were offered at an EU summit in Cologne to approach full integration with EU structures via a new model of contractual relations. According to the French minister, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the countries with which negotiations on these agreements should commence soon. In presenting the agreement's new model in the past, EU representatives were general and did not go into detail. Moscovici
PARIS, Nov 24 (Hina) - Addressing an inter-parliamentary forum in
Paris on stabilisation and reconstruction in the Balkans, French
Minister for European Affairs Pierre Moscovici outlined on
Wednesday a series of concrete details on a new type of agreement
the European Union (EU) should propose to countries of the so called
Western Balkans, and which is called Agreement on Stabilisation and
Association.
Moscovici said the countries in the Western Balkans were offered at
an EU summit in Cologne to approach full integration with EU
structures via a new model of contractual relations.
According to the French minister, Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, and
Bosnia-Herzegovina are the countries with which negotiations on
these agreements should commence soon.
In presenting the agreement's new model in the past, EU
representatives were general and did not go into detail.
Moscovici said the aim of the new model was to organise cooperation
between the EU and said countries, and to incite the countries'
development, with the aim to assist them in gradually reducing the
distance between them and the rest of Europe.
In concrete terms, the new agreement envisages the gradual
establishment of a free trade zone between the EU and each of the
mentioned countries, the French minister said. Such agreements
also envisage the strengthening of other forms of cooperation with
the EU, including in the judiciary and internal affairs, he added.
The agreements on stabilisation and association with the EU have
been also intended as an impetus for the stabilisation of mutual
relations among the countries in the Balkans.
The agreements also contain a clause which would individually
obligate signatory countries to sign a regional cooperation
convention. The convention would include the establishment of
regional political dialogue, a regional free trade zone, and mutual
concessions among the countries relative to the free movement of
people, capital, and services.
(hina) ha mm