2010 to 2015 government policy: stability in the Western Balkans
Updated 8 May 2015
This is a copy of a document that stated a policy of the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government. The previous URL of this page was /驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟/辫辞濒颈肠颈别蝉/辫谤辞尘辞迟颈苍驳-蝉迟补产颈濒颈迟测-迟丑谤辞耻驳丑辞耻迟-迟丑别-飞别蝉迟别谤苍-产补濒办补苍蝉鈥�. Current policies can be found at the 188体育 policies list.
Issue
The 1990s saw the violent break-up of the former Yugoslavia and the beginning of the transition from communism in the region. The region has since started the long route to greater stability and prosperity.
Stability in the Western Balkans matters; the region is on Europe鈥檚 doorstep and instability or conflict would affect the UK, including through migration and organised crime. The UK is therefore working to reduce the risk of conflict in the region, promote stability and reconciliation, and support reforms, as the region moves towards future EU and NATO membership.
Actions
The UK is a strong supporter of future EU and NATO membership for all countries of the Western Balkans (along with Iceland and Turkey). To reach this future in the EU and NATO, countries need to meet conditions for membership.
The EU accession process, leading to membership, requires serious reform efforts from the region, including on rule of law, organised crime and corruption, public administration, and economic reforms.
The UK is supporting these reforms with 拢3 million of Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) programme funds for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia (and Turkey), for example funding judicial reform or media freedom projects.
The UK is also providing expertise supporting accession-related reforms from across the civil service as part of the [EU twinning programme (http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/tenders/twinning/index_en.htm) to help governments make the necessary reforms. These reforms reduce security threats to the UK and promote a strong environment for British business interests.
Reconciliation is crucial for the region, following the conflict and atrocities of the past. Cooperation with the , the UN court of law dealing with war crimes that took place during the conflicts in the Balkans in the 1990s, remains important, as does the leadership in the region openly and honestly acknowledging the events of the past, such as the genocide in Srebrenica.
The UK is also supporting conflict prevention efforts in the region, with around 拢10 million provided jointly from the FCO, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development (DFID). The work is focused on Bosnia and Herzegovina and on Kosovo and includes:
- UK troops joining, in December 2012, the regional reserve for the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- support for the Srebrenica prosecutions team
- UK judges hearing war crime cases in Kosovo
- projects to support ethnic minorities returning to rebuilt homes following the Kosovo war
The UK continues to support safeguards against instability in Bosnia and Herzegovina, particularly the , the international institution responsible for overseeing implementation of civilian aspects of the Peace Agreement ending the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
DFID is working closely with the European Commission on the .
Background
Albania
Albania is already a member of NATO and has made an application for EU membership. The UK encourages further progress on reforms, particularly rule of law and democracy, for Albania to move forward on towards their EU future.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The UK remains wholly and actively committed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign, stable country with functioning state-level institutions. Significant political progress is needed if progress towards NATO and EU membership is to be made, but such progress will bring benefits to citizens throughout the country.
Croatia
Croatia will accede to the EU in July 2013. The European Commission鈥檚 , published in October 2012, noted the progress made by Croatia in its preparations for accession. The commission also identified a number of areas where further improvements are necessary in order to fully meet all membership requirements.
The would allow the UK to ratify Croatia鈥檚 accession treaty. All existing EU member states must ratify the accession treaty before Croatia can join the EU.
Kosovo
The UK recognised Kosovo鈥檚 declaration of independence in February 2008 and is a longstanding supporter of Kosovo鈥檚 independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The UK is working closely with the EU to establish a stable, prosperous and multi-ethnic Kosovo that is making progress towards eventual EU and NATO membership.
Macedonia
The UK supports Macedonia鈥檚 progress towards EU and NATO membership. Since March 2002, the European Commission has reported regularly to the EU Council and Parliament on progress made by the countries of the Western Balkans region. The describes the progress made by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in preparing for EU membership.
Montenegro
with the EU in June 2012. The UK supports an early focus on rule of law issues in the negotiations, notably strengthening the judiciary and tackling organised crime and corruption.
Serbia
The UK is a long-standing supporter of Serbia鈥檚 EU future and welcomed Serbia becoming an official EU candidate in March 2012. We urge Serbia to make further progress normalising its relations with Kosovo in order to meet the criteria for opening accession negotiations with the EU. Domestic reforms and regional cooperation remain important.