EU Summit: EU leaders have told five Balkan countries that their future lies in the European Union and promised more economic aid for the region. But they said that more must be done to combat crime and strengthen political institutions if the promise of EU membership is to be fulfilled. Denis Staunton reports from Thessaloniki
The EU leaders met their counterparts from Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia-Montenegro near the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Saturday. The EU promised an extra €200 million for the region in addition to the €5 billion already pledged until 2006.
The Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, told the five countries that they could expect to join the EU if they fulfil all the necessary political and economic conditions.
"The process of European unification will not be complete until the Balkans have joined the EU," he said.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana, announced that the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo, which is still part of Serbia but has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, were ready to start a dialogue next month. Mr Svetozar Marovic, the president of Serbia and Montenegro, expressed confidence that the talks could put Belgrade's relationship with Kosovo on a better footing.
"I hope we can really prove to all the European countries that we have the force, the patience and the energy to resolve the many problems of the past," he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said that the EU was inspired by the desire to consign to history the kind of conflicts that have scarred the western Balkans.
"It is a fact that the Balkans has an unfortunate history of instability. But there is no region of Europe destined by some force of nature to permanent instability and economic stagnation. The context offered by the prospect of European integration has enabled many of the member-states and accession states represented here to overcome previously insurmountable problems of conflict and economic underdevelopment," he said.
The EU made clear, however, its concern about organised crime in the western Balkans, stressing the impact such crimes as people trafficking and drug smuggling have on the EU. Italy's Foreign Minister, Mr Franco Frattini, said the EU was also concerned about the level of corruption is some Balkan countries.
"We expect strong action on reforming state structures to eliminate the widespread curse of corruption. We expect energetic, totally firm action", he said.
The French President, Mr Jacques Chirac, said that the EU wanted to export peace but it did not want to import problems. Germany's Chancellor, Mr Gerhard Schröder, said it would be a long time before a country such as Albania joins the EU.
"These are perspectives that lie far into the future," he said.