About: Stability and Association

No EU-Serbia pact while war criminals are free, says Del Ponte

The European Union should refuse closer ties with Serbia until it delivers indicted war criminals to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the ICTY chief prosecutor has told members of Parliament. 

Montenegrins choose pro-independence government

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

Macedonia’s Public Secret: How corruption drags the country down

Macedonia’s Public Secret: How corruption drags the country down Corruption in Macedonia, especially at high levels of government, is endemic. It has evolved from passive exploitation to active coercion and acquired the capacity not only to retard economic progress but...

Negotiating a Viable State Union of Serbia and Montenegro

Negotiating a Viable State Union of Serbia and Montenegro Talks on the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro could not produce an agreement by the initial deadline of end-of-July. The stakes are high for the parties concerned but the EU...

Bosnia’s Alliance for Change Expires as Elections Approach

Bosnia’s Alliance for Change Expires as Elections Approach EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Put together under the tutelage of representatives of the international community in the aftermath of the November 2000 general elections, the ten-party coalition known as the Democratic Alliance...

Commission publishes report on Western Balkan Stabilisation and Association Process

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.

Serbia and Montenegro agree to stay together

Yugoslav leaders agreed on a historic deal on 14 March, creating a new structure and renaming the federation into Serbia and Montenegro.

Austria ratifies EU agreement with Croatia

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

Solana calls for unity of Yugoslavia to ensure its place in the EU

The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has called on the Montenegrin President, Milo Djukanovic, to preserve the union of Serbia and Montenegro.

New assistance framework for Yugoslavia adopted

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).

EU adopts new assistance strategy for Croatia and Albania

The European Commission has adopted new strategic frameworks for its financial assistance to Croatia and Albania. The so-called CARDS programme (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Democratisation and Stabilisation) supports the participation of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Yugoslavia in the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process.

Balkan Stability Pact coordinator criticises EU bureaucracy

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 tries to prevent further fragmentation of Yugoslavia

The EU's high representative for foreign policy, Javier Solana, held talks with Yugoslav officials on 17 December in an attempt to prevent a final break-up of the federation. Serbia's smaller partner in the federation, Montenegro, wants to break away from Yugoslavia despite the opposition of half of its population.

EU names new co-ordinator for Balkan Stability Pact

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.

Croatia ratifies EU association accord

The Croatian parliament ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union that opens a possibility for Croatia to become an EU member.

EU satisfied with moderates’ victory in Kosovo election

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.

EU and Yugoslavia continue talks on stabilisation and association process

The EU-Yugoslavia Consultative Task Force met for the second time on 6 November in Belgrade to discuss Yugoslavia's preparations to participate in the EU Stabilisation and Association process for the Balkans. The EU and Yugoslavia opened talks on 23 July 2001 that may lead to Yugoslavia's conclusion of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement and give the country the prospect of EU membership.

EU ponders way forward for Stability Pact

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.

5 telecom priorities for Belgian EU Presidency

Belgium will mainly focus on finalising the 1999 telecommunications sector review. Other Belgian priorities are UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), .EU, e-government and e-security.

EU and Yugoslavia begin association agreement talks

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.

The Ins and Outs (Interview with the Macedonian prime minister)

The prime minister of Macedonia, Ljubco Georgievski, is a sad and disappointed man. A youthful 35-year-old poet and man of letters (he has published three books of experimental literature), he genuinely aches over the recent events and his shattered dream...

The Balkan Question Revisited

When the USSR disintegrated virtually overnight, in 1989, its demise was often compared to that of the Ottoman Empire’s. This was a very lacking comparison. Turkey’s death throes lasted centuries and its decomposition was taken to be so certain that...

The Victory is Montenegro

The implications of independence for Montenegro In 1995, Montenegro exempted its conscripts from serving in the Yugoslav Federal Army (JNA). It opened its doors to a flood of Bosniaks (Moslems) during the Bosnia war and to Kosovar Albanians during Operation...

ICG presents peace plan for the Balkans

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