Three major advantages emerged as clear assets amongst five Central and Eastern European countries in view of developing a foreign assistance policy, as they prepare for EU membership. At a conference in Vienna 5 May, which was hosted by Austrian Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia identified, first, technical (rather than financial) assistance; second, the transformation experience from planned to market economy; and third, the priceless experience of accession negotiations with the EU as fields where their support to Western Balkans can be particularly fruitful.

Minister Ferrero-Waldner outlined the continued strong engagement of Austria in the region and invited the five countries to seize the opportunities. As they convened for the first time in this format, they were strongly commended by Special Co-ordinator Busek for their advanced planning for sharing their experiences with their South East European neighbours. Although becoming an EU member obliges to develop a foreign assistance programme, it became clear in Vienna that the five have already engaged on this path ahead of their expected EU entry May 2004.

Based on previous and ongoing assistance activities, the five countries are about to work out targeted foreign assistance programmes, mainly within their respective foreign ministries. Hungary and Slovakia draw on the so-called Szeged and Bratislava processes, supporting the then democratic opposition forces to the former Milosevic regime in Yugoslavia. Slovenia plans, as of 2004, to offer development cooperation agreements to the Western Balkan states. As one of the most important investors in the region, Slovenia also focuses on business promotion and training. Poland and the Czech Republic have engaged in training activities for civil servants and judicial personnel. Both are focusing on decentralising local government, cross border co-operation and support for civil society.

The five transition countries and soon-to-be members of the EU have all announced plans to compile medium term foreign assistance packages, with up to 5 years duration. At the meeting, the European Commission outlined that the experiences, which the five have gone through, are of a very similar type to what Western Balkan countries are or will be conducting in the framework of the SAA process. (FYR Macedonia and Croatia have concluded such agreements with the European Union, while negotiations with Albania have started early 2003.) As guest to the conference, UNDP and USAID outlined their activities in the Western Balkans in order to further enhance the co-ordination of support activities to the region, for which the Vienna gathering has laid the groundwork. Representing the region, the South East Europe Co-operation Process-Chair, Bosnia and Herzegovina, welcomed and valued the contributions that Central and East European countries could make. Special Co-ordinator Busek concluded by encouraging the five not to simply put the “accession experience” behind them, but to pass it on as a regional learning exercise to their SEE neighbours, as they aspire to become EU members.