Newsletter 4/2010 - From Brussels angle
PARALLEL INTERVIEW: Miguel Angel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain
Progress in European integration of Western Balkan countries needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis
Mr Moratinos, what are the main challenges for the countries of South
The European perspective for the countries of South East Europe was drawn up at the
The challenges the South East European countries face in order to meet the conditions vary as the degree of their progress in the European perspective differs. Some countries need to improve their co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), others need to implement important constitutional reforms to adapt their country to the European Convention on Human Rights or to make this functional, some of them need to further develop the rule of law, or resolve outstanding bilateral problems with the neighbouring countries. In short, the situation of the region's countries with regard to their European perspective varies and the conditionality needs to be applied on a case by case basis.
What could be the added value of regional cooperation in this context?
Regional cooperation is an essential condition for consolidating the European perspective of these countries. The European Council of December 2009 included in its conclusions on the Western Balkans the need to further develop intra-regional cooperation as a key objective in order to fulfil the Association and Stabilisation Agreements with the European Union. The Regional Cooperation Council, working under the umbrella of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) will play a key role in fostering intra-regional cooperation and will act in accordance with the principles of inclusion, regional appropriation of the process and harmonisation of the different initiatives.
The
The Lisbon Treaty has led to important constitutional changes in the EU. It has provided the European Union with a permanent President of the Council and a High Representative for foreign affairs. The exterior facet 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
The high-level meeting between the EU and the Western Balkans, which was held in
How do you appraise the results of the Regional Cooperation Council so far and see the organization’s role in the future?
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the institution that has inherited the Stability Pact for
A fundamental milestone in its consolidation as a key institution in the region was a recent adoption of its 2011-2013 Strategy, prepared in collaboration with the European Commission, which will enable the RCC to concentrate its activities on the strategic priority areas for regional development. The document also establishes the need to concentrate on those projects that will generate greater added value and will help bring about regional cohesion.
The Regional Cooperation Council therefore finds itself at a crucial point in its evolution and its performance over the next two or three years will be decisive in consolidating its role as a key actor for cooperation in the Balkan region. In this regard, the recent renewal of mandate of its Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, will greatly help the current team in their task to further develop regional cooperation over the coming years, guided by the principles and objectives established in the recently approved Strategy.

Miguel Angel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain (Photo: www.eitb.com/)