Speaking at the General Affairs Council in Brussels today, Bodo Hombach told the EU Foreign Ministers that the Zagreb Balkan Summit on 24 November would be a moment where the world would expect answers from the European Union. Strongly supporting the French initiative to hold the Summit Bodo Hombach pointed to the need for substantial financial commitments by the EU, to be matched by reforms in the region. Crucially, the Summit would be the first meeting at the highest level after the elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: it would have to give a unified and clear answer as to how the democratic forces in Serbia will be supported. Following is the full text of Bodo Hombach’s statement:I strongly support the initiative of the French Presidency to hold the Zagreb Summit and thank you for inviting me to this discussion. The Summit will keep south eastern Europe on the agenda. This EU commitment is, in itself, an important signal, just as important as the other signals from Zagreb: The EU is demonstrating, through the Stabilisation and Association Process, its leading role in the Region and the Stability Pact. The invited countries are committing themselves concretely, through reforms and regional co-operation, to strengthening their perspective of accession to the European Union. The door to Europe is also open for a democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. I fully agree with the French Presidency in the formulation of the operational goals for Zagreb. At the same time I am of the opinion that it will be of decisive importance for the success of the Summit that the most important initiatives, negotiations and legal acts of the EU currently in preparation should be completed: the asymmetric trade liberalisation measures the CARDS regulation the completion of the SAA negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia the start of SAA negotiations with Croatia. A further important goal is the unrestricted access of Croatia to the programmes of the EIB. I could also imagine that on the occasion of the Summit the Union could take an initiative in the field of justice and home affairs, for example police training. The Stability Pact could be helpful here, as in other questions of strengthened co-operation in the region. In general I believe that the Summit should emphasise the close interdependence and complementarity between the EU and the Stability Pact, between the Stabilisation and Association Process on the one hand and Stability Pact programmes on the other. It goes without saying that the Stability Pact is doing everything to ensure the success of the SAA process. It should be equally clearly said that the EU will exercise its leading role in the Stability Pact by means of full support for its initiatives (Investment Compact, Anti-Corruption Initiative, Media Charter etc.). On the financing of the SAA process we need a convincing signal to the affected countries. As Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact, and with a view to the future budget for programmes of a regional character, I would like to see the Summit address the question of the financing of the CARDS programme in a manner consistent with the Commission’s proposals and, as appropriate, brought into line with Agenda 2000 by means of reallocations. Concerning the format of the Summit: it seems sensible, and here I support the Presidency, to discuss all questions relating to the SAA process with the group of countries concerned. When it comes to answers to the question of the situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia I would strongly urge an inclusive procedure which also allows the neighbouring countries to have their say. The Presidency has also made some suggestions on this, in the discussion of which I would look forward to taking part.According to opinion polls, we can expect that the Serbian people will send a signal of opening towards Europe at the forthcoming elections, even if the danger is also there that Milosevic will steal the elections. On 25 September the election observers of the opposition, who will carry out exit questionnaires at the polling stations, will announce an election result. This will set the agenda for international reporting. We have to be prepared for that. The Summit will be the first event, at the top level, which will be able to draw conclusions from the election result in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Already on 25 September, but all the more so on 24 November, we must be in a position to give the democratic forces a joint and internationally agreed answer. All differences between us must take a back seat. This unity will require powerful European leadership.