Commissioner Patten to visit Pristina and Belgrade

The Commissioner for External Relations, Chris Patten will visit Pristina and Belgrade this week to support efforts for greater stability, and progress towards closer association with the European Union.

During his visit he will meet the new Special Representative of the Secretary General (UN Mission in Kosovo), the President and Prime Minister of Kosovo's Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) as well as other leading political figures. He will also address the PISG Assembly for the first time.

He will go on to see the President of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and the Prime Ministers of the two Republics as well as other key political figures from the ruling coalition and from the DSS and G17 Plus parties.

During his visit to Belgrade the Commissioner will underline the importance that the European Union attaches to the rule of law, by accompanying the Serbian Justice and Interior Minister on a visit to a court which is to be refurbished by the EU for trials connected with organised crime.

On the eve of his visit, Commissioner Patten said: "As far as Kosovo is concerned, the urgent need is to get away from provocative position-taking on final status. We need to concentrate on getting a constructive dialogue started between Belgrade and Pristina as soon as possible on matters of common concern. The European Commission looks forward to playing its full part. Ethnic tensions must not be allowed to set back political and economic progress in Kosovo. In Serbia and Montenegro, I will be setting out the many important areas which we will be examining to see whether it will be possible to recommend that we can move forward in due course to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and Montenegro. Top of the list in this Feasibility Study will be an assessment of the commitment of the State Union and Republican governments to democratic values and of their determination to implement their international obligations".

Pristina

Commissioner Patten will visit Kosovo on 10/11th September, at a time when there have been a number of violent incidents, threatening the peaceful co-existence of communities, and delaying the return of non-Albanian displaced people. He will stress that this destructive cycle of violence must be broken, and that Kosovo's leaders should use all their influence to this end.

This will be Commissioner Patten's first visit to Kosovo since the appointment of SRSG Harri Holkeri. He will offer Mr. Holkeri the European Commission's full support, and discuss future co-operation with the EU.

The Commissioner will discuss the economic problems facing Kosovo, including delays in the restructuring of Publicly Owned Enterprises, and the privatisation of Socially Owned Enterprises, electricity provision, and unemployment. He will offer continuing support to the PISG in developing a functioning administration and a comprehensive economic strategy.

Whatever Kosovo's final status, its future is with Europe. The European Commission is helping Kosovo to measure and boost its progress through a so-called Tracking Mechanism which ensures that Kosovo's laws and policies converge with the EU, so that it is not isolated from the wider developments in South Eastern Europe. Commissioner Patten will point out that benefits from this process will depend on Kosovo's own efforts to make the necessary reforms.

Belgrade

Commissioner Patten has recently instructed his staff to begin a Feasibility Study on prospects for Serbia and Montenegro to take the next steps towards a closer relationship with Europe: the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. This follows the adoption by the three Parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro of the Action Plan on Trade and the Internal Market.

The Feasibility Study will consider Serbia and Montenegro's performance in upholding democratic standards, the rule of law, human rights including media freedom, the fight against organised crime and co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The Study will also examine the extent to which the Constitutional Charter and the Action Plan are being adhered to and implemented Commissioner Patten will voice continuing concerns about the lack of common tariffs for key agricultural products, and the failure to harmonise import levies.

Commissioner Patten will underline that the future pace of Serbia and Montenegro's progress towards the EU will be determined by the speed of progress on concrete reforms achieved by the country itself. Next year, the European Commission will begin developing a new 'European Partnership' with the country to support Serbia and Montenegro's ambition to join the European Union one day.


For further information:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/see/fry/index.htm

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• EUHR Solana on Launching Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (14/10/2003)