European Union Signs Stabilisation Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina
16.06.2008
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet took part in a meeting of a council of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, 16 June. During a general affairs session, the European Union foreign policy leaders discussed the European Council’s conclusions and introduced the upcoming French, Czech, and Swedish presidency trio with their platform. During the external relations session questions were raised regarding the situation in the Western Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East.
In discussing the condition in the Western Balkans, the foreign ministers stopped first to address the situation following the parliamentary elections held on 1 June this year in Macedonia. The foreign ministers expressed concern over the violent events which occurred during the election. According to Foreign Minster Paet, it is regrettable that areas populated by ethnic Albanians were unable to neither hold back violence nor observe the law. “We should hope that Macedonia’s authorities will bring clarity to the offenders,” said Paet. “It is important that the new parliament start its work as fast possible and that it continue with its reform and movement towards the European Union,” added Paet.
The EU foreign ministers concluded a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina. “The Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina will strengthen the whole region’s integration process with the EU,” stated the Estonian Foreign Minister.
The EU foreign policy leaders affirmed rapid developments with regards to Western Balkan visas, where road maps for visa regime liberalisation have been presented to Serbia (7 May), Macedonia (8 May), Montenegro (25 May), Albania (3 June), as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina (5 June).
During the general affairs session, the EU foreign ministers discussed the European Council’s conclusion plans. The foreign ministers addressed the area of Western-Balkan foreign relations and also focused for a while on matters related to food and oil costs. According to Paet, a stance should be taken against market tampering as well as tax breaks. “We are at such a standpoint where, to put a brake on the noted rise in prices, we cannot utilise fiscal policy measures,” said Paet. According to Paet, Estonia supports the advancements of its eastern partners in the frame of European Neighbourhood policy and agrees with the European Commission’s standpoint with respect to the Western Balkans, which reaffirms the region’s European Union perspective.
With regards to Africa, the foreign ministers, along with the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, discussed developments in the Sudan. The foreign ministers emphasised the need to get the operational UN and African Union cooperative mission, UNAMID (United Nations Africa Union Mission in Darfur) to work as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Over lunch, the foreign ministers exchanged their first thoughts regarding the union the Lisbon Treaty after Ireland’s so-called “no-vote”. Similarly, relations with China and Iran as well as the situation in Georgia were discussed.
SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE
+372 6377654
+372 53020798
pressitalitus@mfa.ee
 
|
