Newsletter 4/2010 - From Brussels angle
PARALLEL INTERVIEW: Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the European Commission
Regional cooperation is at the heart of EU’s policy towards South East Europe
Ms Ashton, what are the main challenges for the countries of South
The South East European countries each have their own specificities. The Western Balkan countries have developed differently after the break-up of
The EU stands ready to support the countries in their efforts. Politically in high level contacts and in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process. Financially via the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Technically via the TAIEX office. Hardly any day passes without direct political contacts at the highest level. We had the
The break-up of
It would be a clear and concrete manifestation of the resolve of the South East European countries to leave the past behind and engage in a European future. There are encouraging examples.
Improving relations with neighbours, playing a constructive role in the region, solving bilateral conflicts – these are all important challenges on the way towards EU membership. as well as dealing with the past, full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former
What could be the added value of regional cooperation in this context?
I could give you a long answer or I could simply say: the European Union is about regional cooperation.
To be more explicit: regional cooperation strengthens solidarity, largely facilitates solution to unresolved issues and advances the cause of moving closer to the EU. But beyond this regional cooperation has a value in itself. Let us hope that the RCC will remain the platform for regional cooperation for the countries of the region way beyond their EU accession.
The idea to strengthen regional cooperation has been at the heart of the EU’s policy to the region since the mid-nineties as part of a gradual consolidation of peace. The philosophy then: The European orientation of the South East European countries should be reinforced by close cooperation with the other countries of the region on as many issues as possible and should deal with open issues so that they will not burden cooperation with (future)
This is why, in 1999, regional cooperation was made an essential element of the EU’s Stabilisation and Association Process for the Western Balkans: the more constructive a country operates with its neighbours, the better for its advancements in the SAP. In 2000 during the Zagreb Summit, the EU offered accession on the basis of the EU Treaty, the
The
The EU has developed rapidly in the last years, almost without pause. It has more than doubled the number of member states within 15 years and has implemented several Treaty revisions.
Regarding enlargement the focus is now on preparation for EU membership, including implementation of the acquis of the
What are the key messages for the countries of South East Europe from the recently held EU-Western Balkans High Level Meeting in
In
It is vital that our commitment is matched by everyone else’s. It was therefore encouraging to hear the commitment of the Western Balkans to intensify the pace of reform in key areas and to further strengthen regional cooperation on the basis of the principles of inclusiveness and regional ownership.
In
As for the follow-up, the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda provides for ministerial meetings between the EU and the Western Balkans. These meetings are convened every year. As said before, we have ample opportunity to meet at political level in various configuration.
How do you appraise the results of the Regional Cooperation Council so far and see the organization’s role in the future?
The RCC has increased local ownership of regional cooperation and continued the many regional activities inherited from the defunct Stability Pact and, where appropriate, developed new ones. We welcome efforts in areas such as Climate Change, Research and Development, Disaster Management. The new RCC Strategy provides a clear roadmap for the years ahead and should help to make regional cooperation more result-oriented, coherent and rational.
The Regional Cooperation Council has become the key interlocutor of the EU concerning regional cooperation. It is necessary for us to keep close contacts with the RCC and vice versa. The EU and EU Member States are represented in the RCC Board. The EU has taken a step back when the Stability Pact was dissolved and left the driving seat of regional cooperation to the region, but it remains ready to support the RCC meet the various challenges ahead: the economic and financial crisis, implementation of the RCC Strategy; Kosovo’s participation and streamlining the regional initiatives.
For me the RCC should become the centre of gravity of a regional cooperation landscape, coordinating the various regional activities. The RCC’s privileged access to the SEECP should help muster political support for its agenda. I hope that in a few years time the region will have moved significantly closer to the EU, bilateral issues will have been solved or will be on the way to a solution, more activities like the Investment Committee and the Ljubljana Process will be regionally owned, the difficulties in CEFTA will be overcome and the Transport Treaty and other international conventions signed.
If I may, here is a question to you. Where does the RCC want to be in five years time? This is now up to you to answer.
Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, has been the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union (EU) since 1 December 2009 when the post was created by the Treaty of Lisbon. She is also the First Vice-President of the European Commission. Previously, Ms Ashton was Commissioner for Trade in the European Commission. She was appointed Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Queen's Privy Council in Gordon Brown’s first Cabinet in June 2007. As well as Leader of the Lords, she took responsibility in the House of Lords for equalities issues. She took the

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/ Vice President of the European Commission (Photo:http://ec.europa.eu/avservices)