Summary: EU Council Conclusions on Western Balkans (3 October 2005: Luxembourg)
Council of the European Union 2679th session - External Relations - Luxembourg
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The Council expressed its deep disappointment at the decision by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska to reject the latest proposal for police reform which met the EU principles, and regretted that it would not now be possible for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to start negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU by the 10th Anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement.
The Council reaffirmed that the European Union stands ready to open SAA negotiations with BiH as soon as possible, once the necessary conditions have been met. The Council expressed the hope that this might still be possible before the end of the year, but emphasised that a pre-requisite for this was agreement on police reform that respected the three EU principles.
The Council urged all parties involved in negotiations on police reform, in particular those representing Republika Srpska, to make renewed efforts to reach an agreement in line with EU requirements. It emphasised that the establishment of an efficient police force - free from political interference, with policing areas based on technical and professional criteria, and with exclusive state-level competence for policing - was a vital element of BiH's broader efforts to meet EU standards on the
rule of law, respect for human rights and the protection of minorities.
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
The Council commended the substantial progress made by Serbia and Montenegro, which had allowed the Commission to recommend the opening of negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. On this basis, and mindful of the forthcoming anniversary of the democratic uprising in October 2000, the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations at the earliest opportunity.
The opening of negotiations marks the first important step towards the establishment of contractual relations between the EU and Serbia and Montenegro. It demonstrates the EU's commitment to the full implementation of the Thessaloniki agenda, which emphasised that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the EU.
The Council recalled that the speed with which Serbia and Montenegro moves closer to the EU will depend on how quickly it adopts and implements the necessary reforms and conforms to the Copenhagen criteria and requirements of the Stabilisation and Association process. The Council judged that the pace and conclusion of negotiations would depend in particular on Serbia and Montenegro's progress in developing its legislative framework and administrative capacity, the effective implementation of
the constitutional charter, and full co-operation with the ICTY. The Council and Commission will jointly review Serbia and Montenegro's performance in these areas before negotiations conclude.
Recalling UN Security Council resolutions 1503 and 1534, the Council emphasised its expectation that Serbia and Montenegro will now take decisive action to ensure that all fugitive indictees, notably Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, are finally brought to justice. Full cooperation with the ICTY is essential to achieve lasting reconciliation in the region and lift a fundamental obstacle to EU integration.
The Council encouraged the authorities of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro and its republics to build on the dynamic provided by the opening of negotiations to pursue with commitment their shared reform agenda, and thereby realise the country's full potential. The Council underlined that a stable and prosperous Serbia and Montenegro is vital to the future of the region. The Council reaffirmed the EU's continuing readiness to support Serbia and Montenegro in achieving its ambitions of
moving closer to the EU."
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