Das Gipfeltreffen EU-Westliche Balkanstaaten in Thessaloniki
EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki

Summary/Abstract: The EU-Western Balkans Summit on June 21, 2003 at Thessaloniki has sent clear political signals: (1) the EU is not “tired“ of an enlargement, and (2) a sustainable stabilization of the Balkans is still on top of the EU’s agenda. Both the perspective of a future accession to the EU and the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) have been reinforced as important instruments for bringing the countries of the Western Balkans closer to the EU. The decisions taken at Thessaloniki represent a balanced approach with incentives offered by the EU on the one hand and the commitment of the region itself to continue its efforts for reforms on the other. Certainly not all (sometimes high) expectations expressed before the Summit have been met. Nevertheless, the overall outcome is positive by and large. The SAP has been reinforced by optimising and supplementing the instruments applied and by adding new financial aid. The political dialogue is supposed to be extended. The EU and the Western Balkans do not need new strategies. Instead, the SAP has to be implemented more vigorously. Taking over own responsibility, mobilizing the own creative forces and internalising and applying European standards - these are the biggest challenges the region is facing in the “post-Thessaloniki-phase“.

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