Commissioner Patten to visit Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina

Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten will visit Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina 18th-20th September, to review progress in each case towards the goals set out in the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP). In meetings with senior members of the Kosovo Provisional Institution of Self-Government (PISG) and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as well as the BiH Council of Ministers and the Office of the High Represenative (OHR), the Commissioner will underline the EU's continuing commitment to support the Western Balkan's transition from turmoil to eventual membership. In Bosnia & Herzegovina, Mr Patten will consult with the High Representative Lord Ashdown, with whom he will also participate in a 'meet the public' session. He will discuss preparations for the EU Police Mission (EUPM) which begins at the beginning of 2003, and he will lay the foundation stone of the EU- supported Police Academy in Banja Luka. In Kosovo, the Commissioner will meet Special Representative of the Secretary-General Michael Steiner, and the European Agency for Reconstruction.

On the eve of his visit the Commissioner said "The Western Balkans are advancing in their transition to democracy, peace, and full reintegration into Europe - but there is still an enormous amount of work to do. Our determination to help the region return to stability and prosperity is as strong as ever: no one should think that the passage of time or the emergence of new challenges elsewhere, has diluted our commitment. Of course, we need that commitment to be matched by the region itself: by those who have the responsibility of running the new administrations, and by voters who have the chance to participate in elections throughout the region this autumn".

KOSOVO

The Commissioner's visit is his first since the formation of the new provisional government earlier this year. He hopes to meet President IbrahimRugova, Prime Minister Bajram.Rexhepi, and other ministers..

The United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which is responsible for the interim international civil administration of the province, is progressively transferring powers to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG). In Pristina, Mr Patten will stress the need for the PISG to show it can make efficient use of those powers, and work within them for the time being. The objectives should be to promote democracy, rule of law and a multi-ethnic Kosovo.

Though the ultimate status of Kosovo remains to be decided, the Commissioner will underline that whatever the future holds, the province should look forward to closer ties with Europe. To that end, all involved need to help ensure that reforms undertaken in Kosovo are compatible with EU practice, and thus also with the reforms being undertaken throughout the rest of the region.

The EU is the biggest donor in Kosovo, contributing about 65% of total external aid 1999-2002. The European Community alone has contributed around €1 billion. In these first three years, spending has been concentrated on the expensive task of physical reconstruction. The priorities from now on will be on the equally important, but financially less costly, long-term challenges of institution building. Thus, the planned reduction in financial assistance in coming years (down from €320 in 2001, to €50 million in 2003) is a mark of how much has already been delivered. It certainly should not be seen as a sign of waning commitment but rather as a sign of normalization. Kosovo will continue to receive more assistance per capita than any of its near neighbors.

Because of a lightning strike at the Kosovo B power plant last July there are currently additional problems in electricity supply. The EC fully supports the decisions taken by the SRSG and the PISG to address the energy crisis. The EC has been strongly involved in the electricity sector from the outset (€330m to date) and, through the European Agency for Reconstruction, is responding flexibly and quickly in support of UNMIK's efforts. Energy consumers need to also contribute by paying their bills and saving energy.

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

In Sarajevo, Commissioner Patten will meet the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers and Minister for European Integration, Dragan Mikerevic, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Zlatko Lagumdzija.

BiH's progress under the SAP is currently advancing according to a 'Road Map' established in 2000. This sets out 18 steps that BiH should take before a Feasibility Report on opening SAA negotiations can be conducted. Important progress has been made on the Road Map points, and the Commissioner will discuss with members of the Council of Ministers the next steps to be taken.

The Commissioner will be briefed on preparations for the EU Police Mission (EUPM) by Sven Frederiksen, who is both IPTF Commissioner (International Police Task Force) and head of EUPM Planning. Promoting the rule of law in BiH is a priority shared by the whole international community, and from January 1st 2003 to the end of 2005, the EU will monitor and mentor police activities in BiH, taking over from a mission currently in the hands of the UN-led International Police Task Force. This will be the EU's first mission under the European Security and Defence Policy. Around 470 police officers and 40 - 50 international civilian staff will participate. Planning for the mission is well underway and personnel from EU Member States have been identified. The EC is contributing €14 million to cover EUPM start-up costs in 2002 and a total of €74 to the end of 2005. A further €10 million is being spent more generally on policing 2002 - 2004, plus €47 million up to 2004 for wider justice and home affairs-related issues.

Nearly €200 million of EC assistance is foreseen for BiH in 2002 -2004, to help build a stable economy and a self-sustaining state. Commissioner Patten will underline during his visit the need to create an environment that will favor Foreign Direct Investment, and private enterprise, and develop a single BiH economic space to promote trade. Improving the infrastructure, including human resources is important too, and during his visit Mr. Patten will visit an EC funded secondary technical school, which is helping to boost the skills base in Sarajevo.

Political stability is a pre-condition for economic success, and Mr. Patten will express his hope that BiH voters will participate in the coming elections and cast their votes with long term goals in mind.


For more information, please see:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/see/bosnie_herze/index.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/see/fry/index.htm

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/index.htm

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• Bosnia and Herzegovina (19/9/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo (5/9/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo (30/7/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Bosnia and Herzegovina (10/7/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - The Security Council on Kosovo (26/6/2002)
• EU adopts programme to support Bosnia and Herzegovina  (22/5/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - The situation in Kosovo (24/4/2002)
• EU Presidency declaration on Bosnia and Herzegovina (23/4/2002)
• UN welcomes EU police monitoring in Bosnia-Herzegovinia (19/2/2002)
• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council on the situation in Kosovo (21/1/2002)