Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 162: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent that he and his EU colleagues continue to observe, monitor and support the situation in the western Balkans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21282/10]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the Western Balkans. A significant factor in building stability is the EU perspective for the countries of the region. The June 2003 European Council in Thessaloniki agreed that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans was in the EU. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for cooperation on economic, political and legal matters aimed at bringing the Western Balkan countries towards EU standards and principles in order to meet EU accession requirements.

The Spanish Presidency is organising a high-level conference of EU and Western Balkans leaders in Sarajevo on 2 June. It is expected that representatives of the US, Russia and Turkey will also be present. The conference will be an important opportunity to advance the European perspective of the region.

There has been a series of positive developments in the Western Balkans over the past six months. In December 2009, Justice Ministers of the countries in the Schengen Agreement area granted visa-free travel to citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The European Commission continues to work with Bosnia Herzegovina and Albania to assist those countries in meeting the Schengen criteria for visa-free travel. This may be achieved in the coming months. Also in December, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to implement the Interim Agreement on Trade aspects of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia.

Relations between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been improving in recent months. Turkey is playing an important role in this regard. In February, Bosnia appointed an Ambassador to Serbia for the first time in three years. On 31 March 2010, the Serbian parliament adopted a resolution condemning the massacre of 8,000 Muslims in Srebrenica by Bosnian-Serb forces in 1995. Serbian President Tadic and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will make a joint visit to Srebrenica in July to participate in commemoration ceremonies for the 15th anniversary of the massacre.

I met with the Serbian Foreign Minister in December, and he reiterated the intention of Serbia to prioritise its policy of EU membership. At the end of December, Serbia applied to join the EU.

An EU/US initiative on Bosnia and Herzegovina last October brought local party leaders together to discuss necessary political reforms. While these talks were not immediately successful, the EU continues to engage in efforts to secure political progress, including the transition from the Office of the High Representative to a reinforced EU Special Representative. EU Ministers pledged in January to remain fully engaged with the leaders of Bosnia Herzegovina to secure political progress in advance of the elections. In this regard, I had a very useful discussion with the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Sven Alkalaj, during his official visit to Dublin on 31 March. In the run-up to next October's general election in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EU will monitor events in the country closely.

With respect to Kosovo, the EU and the international community will continue to build on the progress towards stability which is underway in the country, as evinced most clearly by the peaceful conduct of the local elections in November last. The advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence is expected before the end of the year. In this context, the EU will work closely with the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to seek pragmatic solutions to allow them both to move forward towards eventual EU membership and enhanced regional co-operation.