At the traditional meeting of Southeast European Prime Ministers in Salzburg, 30-31 July, Stability Pact Co-ordinator Erhard Busek lauded the results of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki of 22 June as “the best possible outcome SEE countries could have hoped for. Against major odds, and with Afghanistan and Iraq competing for attention on the political agenda, the Greek Presidency put the Western Balkans in the spotlight and has rallied EU member states to give a reinforced perspective of EU membership to these countries. The current Italian EU Presidency continues the Greek line and therefore makes the <> a reality.”

Busek called any ideas about lowering the threshold for EU accession as being “against the interest of Western Balkan countries themselves”. Membership to the EU is not an end it itself. It is a beginning, whereby economies of new members must withstand EU internal market competition, the justice system must be capable of working hand in glove with the European Court of Justice and where national governments and bureaucracies must be able to implement EU decisions. “All Western Balkan countries still have some way to go, some more some less, before they can claim to be fit for full EU membership”, Busek claimed.

Busek underlined that the momentum gained in Thessaloniki should be used to continue the reform path in the most pressing issues of fighting organized crime and liberalising economies. In both domains, the Stability Pact can report on progress achieved. Regarding organized crime, follow up to the London Conference has seen the Ohrid Conference on Border Management and Security and a commitment of Justice Ministers for better data and witness protection, both essential for cross border co-operation in fighting crime.

With respect to economic reforms, Busek noted that the negotiations for 21 free trade agreements to turn SEE into a free trade area had been completed in February 2003, many are now in force and the remainder will be ratified by the end of the year. With regard to regional infrastructure, a total amount of approx. 4.1 billion Euro have been allocated for projects in the framework of the Infrastructure Steering Group, comprising the EU Commission, the World Bank, EIB, EBRD, CEB and the Stability Pact, which demonstrates the steady and substantial commitment of the international community to the region. “Additional funds, while necessary, are not our first priority; improving the ability of the region to make the maximum use of this substantial funding is!” Busek said.