Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-04-13-Speech-3-238"
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"en.20050413.19.3-238"2
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It has been stressed by various speakers in this debate and also in various reports and pronouncements by the Commission and the Council. The countries of the Western Balkans are future members of the European Union, but in the present social climate that is easier said than done. We heard it in the debate this morning about Romania and Mr Swoboda has referred to it: there is a certain enlargement fatigue. I am very afraid that this enlargement fatigue will in particular have repercussions on our Balkan policy. I remain convinced that – however unpopular it may be and I emphasise it here once more – the European Union needs a Balkan strategy. Yesterday the International Commission for the Balkans, whose membership includes a good many interesting and expert people, published a report. I quote from that report. It is about the Western Balkans. ‘The wars may be over but the smell of violence is still hanging in the air.’ If you travel round the Balkans, in whatever country it may be, then
is the situation and that means that the EU simply cannot afford to think that it is not very convenient for us for the moment, let us let these countries be for now. In this new strategy, in this strategy for the Balkans aimed at membership, two factors are important.
Firstly – although it is patently obvious, I will say it again – the social and economic development in the region at the moment is disastrous and that is the main source of instability. With high unemployment rates it is virtually impossible for young people leaving school here to build a future locally. This leads to additional criminality, uncertainty and instability, and that should not be what we want. If the European Union is good at anything, it is in the fostering of economic ties between these countries and between them and the European Union.
A second element that we must not abandon is the adherence to the basic conditions with regard to human rights and minority rights. Although we as Balkan spokespersons were divided amongst ourselves about this in respect of Croatia, it has already been proven in my view that the adherence by the Council to cooperation with the Hague Tribunal as a condition for the start of negotiations has positive effects in both Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia. I am glad and my compliments to the Council that it stood firm on cooperation with the Tribunal.
Then the matter that concerns us all: Kosovo. I have just been there and am convinced that the report about the standards and what has happened so far will come as a matter of course. I am completely confident that this debate about status will be held. In that debate, Europe, whether it likes it or not, must take the lead because we have the root in our hands. We have the reward for Serbia and Kosovo in our own hands. This debate about the independence of Kosovo must be conducted under all kinds of conditions that are clear even now: no separation, no cooperation with Albania or Macedonia and respect for the Serbian minority.
To do nothing and look away, though, to act as if it is too difficult for Europe to deal with the Balkans at the moment, that is an approach that we cannot afford. Doing nothing will lead to an intolerable and dangerous situation. Let us not inflict this on ourselves and the countries of the Balkans!"@en1
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