EU-Western Balkans relations[fr][de] 

In the wake of the violent conflicts that marked the recent history of the Western Balkans region, the EU considers it a priority to promote the development of peace, stability, prosperity and freedom in the South Eastern European countries of Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania. 

Croatia is discussed in a separate LinksDossier on account of its official candidate status. The framework for the EU's approach is the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), which is designed to encourage and support domestic reform processes. In the long run, SAP offers these countries the prospect of full integration into the EU's structures, provided that certain political and economic conditions are met.

The Lisbon European Council of March 2000 stated that Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) with Western Balkan countries, which involve the establishment of Free Trade Areas "should be preceded by asymmetrical trade liberalisation". As part of the Stabilisation and Association process the Council decided to improve the existing autonomous trade preferences, and provide autonomous trade liberalisation for 95% of all the affected countries' exports to the EU.

The EU, also in its capacity as the main assistance donor in the region, recognises progress by entering into formal contractual relationships with the qualifying states, which all have signed Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) with the EU. The SAA is considered a key step on the road to full membership. 

Albania:

• 1992: Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Albania. Albania becomes eligible for funding under the PHARE programme.
• 1999: The EU proposes a new SAP for five countries of the region, including Albania.
• 2000: Feira European Council states that all the SAP countries are "potential candidates" for EU membership.
• 2003: On 31 January, the Commission officially launches the negotiations for a SAA between the EU and Albania.
• Between 1991 and 2004 the EU has allocated a total of 1,273 million euro to Albania, mostly under the PHARE and the CARDS programmes
• Currently, the EU's main priorities in the country include strengthening public administration and the judiciary; developing police and public order; enhancing the customs service; developing public services and infrastructure; improving the system of education; and strengthening democracy and human rights.
• The SAA is still being negotiated with Tirana. Talks began in January 2003.
• 2004:  In June, the Council reaches a decision on the principles of a European partnership for Albania
• Nov. 2005: The Commission issues its annual progress report on Albania
• Dec. 2005: The European Council decides on the revision of the European Partnership for Albania
• 12 June 2006: Albania signed as the third Western Balkan state a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.
• Sept. 2007: The EU signed a visa facilitation agreement with Albania, which entered into force on 1 January 2008.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH):

• 1995: The Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement brings the war to an end and establishes the Federation of BiH and the Republika Srpska.
• 1998: EU Declaration establishes the EU/BiH Consultative Task Force (CTF), a joint vehicle for technical and expert advice in the field of administration, the regulatory framework and policies.
• 2000: The EU Road Map sets out 18 essential steps to be undertaken by BiH before work on a Feasibility Study for the opening of negotiations on an SAA could be begun.
• 2000: Feira European Council states that all the countries covered by the SAP are potential candidates for EU membership.
• 2001: First year of the CARDS assistance programme specifically designed for the SAP countries.
• 2001: Commission adopts Country Strategy for BiH.
• 2003: The Thessaloniki Summit decides to strengthen political co-operation, enhance institution-building and implement further trade measures to promote economic growth.
• 2003: Commission approves BiH Feasibility Study.
• Since 1991, the EU has committed some 2.5 billion worth of funds to BiH.
• 2004: In June, the EU decides on a European partnership for BiH.
• 2004: In December, EUFOR replaces SFOR ("Althea" operation).
• Oct. 2005: Commission recommends to Council to open talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
• Nov. 2005: Commission issues annual progress report on BiH.
• Nov. 2005: Council gives green light to opening SAA talks with BiH.
• Jan. 2006: SAA talks formally open.
• March 2007: The Commission warned that it would not conclude SAA talks unless the country made progress on reforming its police and co-operated with the UN War Crimes Tribunal.
• July 2007: Miroslav Lajcak is appointed EU High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 29 February 2009.
• Dec. 2007: EU initialled talks on a SAA, being considered a key accord towards future EU accession.
• On 16 April 2008, the Bosnian parliament approved a police reform plan, which was a key EU demand before signing the SAA.
• On 16 June 2008, the bloc's foreign ministers signed the SAA. 

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: 

• 1996: The FYROM becomes eligible for funding under the PHARE programme.
• 2000: The Council adopts negotiating directives for an SAA under the 1999 SAP.
• 2001: The FYROM becomes the first country in the region to sign an SAA The SAA enters into force on 1 April 2004.
• 2003: Mission 'Concordia', the first-ever EU military mission starts operations with a six-month mandate.
• 22 March 2004: the FYROM submits its application for EU membership.
• Through the CARDS programme, the EU has allocated a budget of 173 million euro to the FYROM for the period 2001-2004. The budget is managed by the European Agency for Reconstruction
• In April 2005, the Commission approved a 34.5 million euro CARDS aid package for the FYROM for 2005. 
• On 9 Nov. 2005, the Commission recommends granting candidate status to FYROM.
• On 17 Dec. 2005, the Council decides to grant candidate status to the country. However, no date is specified for the start of membership talks.
• Feb. 2006: Macedonia becomes member of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).
• At the NATO Summit in Bukarest on 2 April 2008, Macedonia's EU hopes suffered a setback following the country's failure to overcome Greek opposition to Macedona joining the alliance as long as it would not change its name. Greece considers the name Macedonia reserved for a Northern Greek region.  
• At the EU foreing affairs ministers meeting on 16-17 June 2008, the name dispute still prevailed, with Macedonia being on the defensive as French President Nicolas Sarkozy made clear that he would follow the Greek argumentation during the upcoming French Presidency. 

Serbia and Montenegro (until May 2006): 

• The state of Serbia and Montenegro is composed of the Republic of Serbia, Kosovo and the Republic of Montenegro. The UN has placed the province of Kosovo under an interim international civil and military administration following the 1999 conflict.
• In total, combining CARDS (previously OBNOVA), macro-financial and humanitarian assistance, EC assistance to Serbia and Montenegro has amounted to more than 2.9 billion euro since 1991.
• In April 2005, the Commission approved a 184 million euro CARDS aid package for Serbia and Montenegro for 2005. 
• Based on a "twin-track" approach (whereby the two republics would negotiate with the EU separately in areas where they operate separately but at the same time they would aim to conclude a single Stabilisation and Association Agreement) the Council has agreed to reopen talks towards the republics' possible EU membership.
• In April 2005, the Council called on the Commission to open negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement "as soon as possible".
• April 2005: The Commission adopts a feasibility report which concluded that Serbia and Montenegro is prepared to negotiate a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU.
• Nov. 2005: Commission issues annual progress report on Serbia and Montenegro
• 1 March 2006: Adoption of a special law on the referendum on State-legal status for Montenegro.
• On 3 May 2006 EU suspends further talks on the SAA with Serbia due to insufficient co-operation with the International Criminal Court of Justice (ICTY) on the arrest of wanted war-crime criminals such as the former General Ratko Mladic.
• Following the formation of a new pro-democracy government in Serbia on 15 May 2007, the EU concluded visa facilitation and readmission agreements.
• Nov. 2007: EU initialled a Stabilisation- and Association Agreement (SAA), which was ready to be signed in February 2008, but had to be delayed due to disagreement within the coalition government whether the signing would imply the recognition of Kosovo's strive for independence.  
• On 17 Feb. 2008, Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, which immediately declared the act illegal, followed by violent protests in Kosovo. To now, 20 ouf of 27 EU member states have recognised Kosovo as a sovereign state.
• On 9 March 2008, the Serbian government collapsed over different views regarding the country's further EU rapprochement, with the nationalist party of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica ruling out the signing of the SAA with the EU at any point as long as it would not reverse its stance on Kosovo. President Boris Tadic called for early elections in May.
• On 29 April 2008, just two weeks ahead of the elections, Tadic eventually signed the SAA with the EU, ignoring calls from Kostunica and his nationalist party to not take any steps before a new government is in place. The EU had strongly pushed for the agreement hoping to give a boost to the pro-European camp.
• Following a tough campaign with President Tadic even receiving death threats over the signing of the SAA and polls showing the Tadic and the Kostunica camp neck-to-neck, pro-EU forces unexpectedly emerged as the clear winners from the 11 May elections. They, however, are not able to govern alone and are dependent on the Socialist Party of former dictator Slobodan Milosevic to form a government. 

Montenegro:

• On 21 May 2006 the referendum on Montenegro's independence of Serbia was held (55.5 % vote for a seperation of Serbia; 44.5 % of the voters wanted to remain with Serbia).
• 3 June 2006: Declaration of Montenegro's independence was formally adopted by the montenegrin parliament.
• In July 2006, the Council adopted the Commission's mandate for the negotiation of the SAA, which were concluded in March 2007.
• On 13 Nov. 2006, the Commission opened negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, which were concluded in November 2007 and entered into force in January 2008.
• On 22 Jan. 2007, a European Partnership for Montenegro was adopted by the Council.
• In 15 Oct. 2007, the SAA was signed, along with a Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters (IA), which entered into force on 1 January 2008.
• On 19 Oct. 2007, the Montenegrin Parliament adopted a Constitution, largely in line with European standards. 
• On 6 April 2008, the incument pro-European President Filip Vujanovic won re-election in a vote seen as further affirmation of the country's march towards further EU integration.