Today is an important day for all of us. The start of negotiations to transform CEFTA into a comprehensive Free Trade arrangement for South Eastern Europe is a crucial step on the road to full integration of all countries of the region into the European structures. It shows the commitment of your countries to this process, regardless of the current status of relations with the European Union. As President of the European Council I welcome this initiative very much because it helps to underpin our efforts to maintain the momentum created by the Thessaloniki agenda, recently reconfirmed at the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers in Salzburg.
I would like to express my appreciation for the hard work invested into this project by the Stability Pact and Erhard Busek in particular. We had a long and open discussion on the creation of such a Free Trade agreement during our by now traditional meeting of Prime Ministers in Salzburg. Based on our common understanding on the political level it has now become possible to set these negotiations in motion.
I am particularly glad to note the strong support given by the European Commission. Free Trade obviously is a building block of European integration whose importance cannot be overstated.
There are, as we all know, very good economic reasons to proceed with this project. The countries of South Eastern Europe do more than two thirds of their external trade with the European Union which clearly shows the untapped potential of intra-regional trade, in particular for small and medium sized enterprises with their possibilities for job creation.
But, even more importantly, there is a pressing political need for this step. We are all aware that last year’s setbacks in the development of the European Union – in particular the negative referenda on the Constitutional Treaty in France and in the Netherlands – have led some EU governments to become more reserved on the scope and speed of future enlargements. It is therefore essential that we generate positive news through concrete steps.
Although each country’s progress towards eventual membership will continue to depend on its individual merits, there is no doubt that increased intra-regional integration presents additional advantages. I am, of course, fully aware that this is anything but easy. Politically it is obviously easier to focus exclusively on individual relations with the European Union. This corresponds to the strong sense of independence and the fully understandable wish to escape the ravages of the past as well as the wish to proceed in the quickest way possible, without being held back through being treated as part of a group.
I have consistently argued against any group model, even during the last round of enlargement. As happy as I am to see the ten – and soon twelve – new members in the Union, there is a clear connection between this “big bang” and the growing reservations in some old Member States. I believe that the reasons for this are mostly psychological, which makes it so difficult to counter with objective facts. And even though negotiations will be individual, it is becoming increasingly clear that the integration of all countries of South East Europe is again seen as a group problem, threatening for some to overstretch the institutions and thus the decision making procedures in the EU.
Therefore my advice is to try and turn this situation into an advantage by further increasing regional cooperation. I am convinced that this strengthens each country’s individual position as well as the overall impression of the region. The remaking of South Eastern Europe’s image is politically as important as the many painful reforms undertaken in each and every country of the region.
We have to be aware that nothing is harder to overcome than prejudice – just as it seems to be almost impossible to get rid of the term “Western Balkans” which should be discarded. Despite the almost instant availability of up to date information there is a sad lack of knowledge about each other even among European states. And as we all know, positive news are even harder to spread, particularly when they run counter our picture of a particular country or region.
The reunification of Europe will not be complete without all of South Eastern Europe. There is no fast and easy way. I can therefore only encourage you to continue along this path and I want to assure you that we will continue to support your individual and common efforts. A lot of hard work remains to be done, but as we can see today it is possible to do.
My thanks go to Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu and Special Coordinator Erhard Busek for organising this event and for giving me the opportunity to attend what should turn out to be a historic moment.
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