CIAO DATE: 05/2008
May 2004
Austrian National Defence Academy
For many Balkan analysts it is important to point out that the EU should practise an open door policy towards the countries in Southeast Europe with the goal to strengthen the stabilisation process in the region. Indeed the EU’s Balkan declaration at the summit in Thessaloniki in June 2003, in which the countries of the Western Balkans were mentioned as possible candidates for the first time, raising hopes among them that in the near future the past wars and human tragedies could become history and that Southeast Europe would be transformed into a prosperous region.
One should not overestimate the Thessaloniki summit – as we know from history there have been many political declarations which did not become concrete policy. Croatia as a first test will show how serious the EU declaration really was. But regardless whether the Southeast European countries will be accepted in the EU in a medium or long term – before Turkey or after Turkey – Thessaloniki somehow symbolises the changes in the engagement of the so-called international community in the region: Not only in regard of the burden sharing between the relevant international organisations and their goals but also in regard of the relationship between the international community and the Southeast European countries.
Resource link: From Peace Making to Self Sustaining Peace - International Presence in South East Europe at a Crossroads -- 8th Workshop of the Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe [PDF] - 2.3M