Tag: Stability and Association

Based on the initial results of the parliamentary elections held on 20 October, the people of Montenegro have elected a pro-independence government.

The first Commission report on the Western Balkan Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) gives an assessment on the progress of each country, and of the process as a whole.

The Austrian Parliament has ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Croatia, signed on 29 October 2001.

The European Commission has adopted a five-year strategic framework for its financial assistance to Yugoslavia. Under the new strategy, Yugoslavia will receive 960 million euro in EU aid over the first three years (2002-2004).

The outgoing co-ordinator of the EU-backed Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, Bodo Hombach, has accused the European Commission of thwarting efforts to help the war-damaged Balkan region.

EU foreign ministers have appointed an Austrian diplomat, Erhard Busek, to replace the German diplomat, Bodo Hombach, as co-ordinator of the Brussels-based Balkan Stability Pact. Mr Busek is a former Austrian Vice-Chancellor and government adviser for enlargement.

Kosovars abandoned the militants and voted for the moderate leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo Ibrahim Rugova in Saturday's elections for a new Kosovo provincial assembly. Mr Rugova called for the formal recognition of the independence of the mainly Albanian-populated Kosovo from Serbia.

The EU foreign ministers have started a discussion on the future of its Stability Pact for the Balkans that was set up in 1999 in order to stabilise the war-torn region.

The EU-Yugoslavia Consultative Task Force met for the first time on 23 July to discuss the EU Stabilisation and Association process, open to the Yugoslav Federation. The ultimate aim of the task force is to prepare ground for negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association agreement that will give Yugoslavia the prospect of EU membership.

International Crisis Group plan for peace in the Balkans disputes international efforts to preserve the unity of Yugoslavia