Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-09-06-Speech-3-036"
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"en.20060906.4.3-036"2
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".
Madam President, I am a bit disappointed with the conservative approach of Ms Lehtomäki in her interpretation of the sauna culture.
I fully agree that the stabilisation of the Western Balkans is the first and foremost priority of the evolving European security and defence policy. Indeed, as Mr Lagendijk said, we cannot afford to fail in this test case.
I should like to thank you all for a very substantive and responsible debate, which clearly shows that this House fully supports the prospects for European integration of the Western Balkans and Kosovo. It is very important now – as was underlined by several speakers – to firmly support the efforts to conclude the status process within the envisaged timetable. We will not gain anything from prolonging the process.
It is also true that peace and appropriate institutions lay the foundation for better economic conditions and job creation, which Kosovo desperately needs. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% unfortunately produces a very fertile breeding ground for crime and corruption.
We need to give the Kosovars the tools to help themselves. Legal certainty and a well-functioning business environment are necessary preconditions for making economic progress in Kosovo.
At the same time, there is another precondition: whatever the precise outcome of the status settlement, it must include treaty-making powers for Kosovo. As Mr Kacin said, treaty-making powers are needed so that we can negotiate with Kosovo and make it part of the stabilisation and association process. Likewise, Kosovo needs treaty-making powers in order to make deals and contracts with the international financial institutions, which is another precondition for making economic progress and improving the employment situation there.
As to Serbia, it is certainly a – if not
key country for the stability of the Western Balkans. The best service that Serbia can render the Kosovo Serbs is to participate very constructively in the talks to ensure that minorities are truly protected, once the outcome of the Kosovo status settlement emerges.
Serbia has firm and tangible prospects of joining Europe. For our part, we are willing to resume the negotiations on the stabilisation and association agreement even on the very same day as Serbia achieves full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, which should lead to the arrest and transfer of Radko Mladic. It is in Serbia’s hands and Serbia can make this European aspiration a reality and release the tremendous economic, cultural and intellectual potential that exists in the country.
I should like to correct one misunderstanding, which has not occurred here but often arises, namely the belief that the Council and Commission are competing in the Western Balkans. That is not the case at all. The Council and Commission are not competing, but cooperating fully and deeply for stability and democracy in the Western Balkans. We work very well in tandem with Mr Solana, as do our services. For instance, in relation to the rule of law, we need that cooperation because the rule of law – that is, the provisional training of judges and police – is a joint competence of the Council, the Member States and the Commission. Therefore, in order to use that joint competence sensibly, we need cooperation. That is what we have with Mr Solana and his people.
As to Mr Wiersma’s question on resources, apart from Kosovo there are other burning issues, such as Lebanon. How successfully the resource question is resolved will now be up to you, as the budgetary authority. I am very grateful to the Finnish Presidency for its readiness to play a very constructive role in this very difficult matter."@en1
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