2501^st EU Council Meeting
External Relations
Luxembourg, April 14, 2003

Extracts on South East Europe

The Council reviewed the latest developments in the Western Balkans inter alia in the light of a report by High Representative Javier Solana on his recent visit to Serbia and Montenegro and adopted the following conclusions:

Serbia and Montenegro

The Council welcomed the accession of Serbia and Montenegro to the Council of Europe and expressed its expectation that the country would honour fully the commitments and obligations undertaken upon accession. It took this opportunity to reiterate its strong support for the new state union, the full functionality of which remained a key element for further rapprochement towards the EU and the stability of the region.

The Council reiterated its support for the continued efforts of the Serbian government under the new Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic to break up organised crime structures in the country and welcomed recent important achievements in this field, including progress in solving the Stambolic case.

The Council welcomed the proposals by the High Representative and the Commission on ways to
provide further EU support to Serbia and Montenegro in implementing the reforms allowing for further progress towards the EU. It invited the competent bodies to rapidly examine these proposals with a view to early decisions.

Serbia and Montenegro/Kosovo

The Council called on all concerned, particularly the Kosovo Assembly, to refocus their attention
on the .standards before status. policy. It expressed its full support to the efforts made by UNMIK
to transfer competencies in fulfillment of UN Security Council resolution 1244 and the
Constitutional Framework in an inclusive process. The Council recalled the importance it attributes to a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual interest. It urged all parties to refrain from unilateral acts jeopardizing the objective of a multiethnic and democratic Kosovo.

The Council welcomed the efforts of the EIB and UNMIK to establish a framework for effective
lending for projects in Kosovo, which will in no way prejudge any future decision on the final status of Kosovo. In this context and within the framework of UNSCR 1244, it confirmed that Kosovo is covered by the mandate for Central and Eastern Europe, as set out in Council Decision 2001/778/EC amending Decision 2000/24/EC.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Council supported the actions taken by the High Representative Lord Ashdown concerning the ORAO affair on the illegal export of weapons to Iraq and its aftermath. It welcomed President Sarovic.s resignation, by which he accepted his political responsibility for this case.
Given the importance of further progress within the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP), the Council expressed support for the preparation by the Commission of a feasibility study on the opening of negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this context, the Council urged all authorities and political parties to redouble their efforts for the implementation of the necessary reforms.

Regional Co-operation

The Council recalled the importance it attached to regional co-operation, which constitutes one of
the main elements of the SAP. In this respect it welcomed the outcome of the South Eastern Europe Co-operation Process (SEECP) Summit in Belgrade on 09 April 2003 and commended the SEECP members' commitment to further enhance regional co-operation, with concrete initiatives.

Stabilisation and Association Process Review

The Council welcomed the Commission's second annual report on the Stabilisation and Association Process for SouthEast Europe and invited the competent bodies to prepare recommendations ahead of future Council conclusions and the Thessaloniki EU-Western Balkans Summit.

Cooperation with International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

The Council, in order to support, with concrete actions, the efforts already undertaken by the countries of the region concerned to fully co-operate with ICTY, decided to adopt a Common Position, with which measures to prevent entry into or transit through the EU will be applied against individuals who assist ICTY indictees. It instructed its competent bodies to act accordingly. The Council is actively considering further measures.

EU Military Operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

The Council welcomed the launch of the EU military operation "Concordia" in the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (fYROM) on 31 March 2003, following the NATO operation "Allied
Harmony". This operation provides further tangible proof of the EU's full commitment to fYROM
and the further development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)."

Croatia

"On 20 February 2003, the President Mr. Stjepan MESIC and the Prime Minister Mr. Ivica RACAN of the Republic of Croatia, have presented the application of Croatia for accession to the European Union (doc. 6991/03 ELARG 19 COWEB 28).

The Council decided to implement the procedure laid down in Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union. Accordingly, the Commission is requested to submit to the Council its opinion on this application.

PARTICIPANTS

The Governments of the Member States and the European Commission were represented as
follows:

Belgium:

Mr Louis MICHEL
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ms Annemie NEYTS
Minister, attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with
responsibility for Agriculture

Denmark:

Mr Per Stig MŘLLER
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr Friis Arne PETERSEN
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Germany:

Mr Joschka FISCHER
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Federal
Chancellor

Greece:

Mr Anastasios GIANNITSIS
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs

Spain:

Ms Ana PALACIO VALLELERSUNDI
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr Ramón DE MIGUEL Y EGEA
State Secretary for European Affairs

France:

Mr Dominique de VILLEPIN
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Ms Noëlle LENOIR
Minister attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, with responsibility for European Affairs

Ireland:

Mr Dick ROCHE
Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for European Affairs

Italy:

Mr Franco FRATTINI
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Mr Roberto ANTONIONE
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Luxembourg:

Ms Lydie POLFER
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

Netherlands:

Mr Jaap de HOOP SCHEFFER
Minister for Foreign Affairs

Austria:

Ms Benita FERRERO-WALDNER
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs

Portugal:

Mr António MARTINS da CRUZ
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities Abroad
Mr Carlos COSTA NEVES State Secretary for European Affairs

Finland:

Mr Erkki TUOMIOJA
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Mr Jari VILÉN
Minister of Foreign Trade

Sweden:

Ms Anna LINDH
Minister for Foreign Affairs

United Kingdom:

Mr Denis MACSHANE
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office

* * *

Commission:

Mr Günter VERHEUGEN
Member

Mr Pascal LAMY
Member
* * *

General Secretariat of the Council:

Mr Javier SOLANA
Secretary-General/High Representative for the CFSP