Case Study - A Regional Strategy for Stability and Prosperity in South Eastern Europe
3.1 The Historical Evolution , Aims, Structure and Achievements of the Stability Pact
3.1.1 HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
On10 June 1999, at theEU’s initiative, the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was adopted inCologne. In the founding document, more than 40 partner countries and organizations undertook to strengthen the countries of south Eastern Europe “in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity in order to achieve stability in the whole region”. Euro-Atlantic integration is promised to all the countries in the region. At a summit meeting in Sarajevo on 30 July 1999, the Pact was once again solemnly sealed. The Stability Pact is intended to facilitate the integration of the Balkan countries into Euro-Atlantic structures and EU.
The Stability Pact is a political declaration of commitment and a framework agreement on international co-operation to develop a shared strategy among more than 40 countries, organizations and regional groupings for stability and growth in South Eastern Europe. The Stability Pact is not, therefore, a new international organization nor does it have any independent financial resources and implementing structures.
The Stability Pact is the first serious attempt by the international community to replace the previous, reactive crisis intervention policy in South Eastern Europe with a comprehensive, long-term conflict prevention strategy. The idea for the Stability Pact arose in late 1998 and thus predates the Kosovo war. But the NATO intervention undoubtedly acted as a catalyst in strengthening international political will for co-coordinated and preventative action in the region. In view of the diversity of the numerous participants in the Pact and the wide area – both thematic and geographical – that the Pact aims to cover, a complex organizational structure was created to ensure the implementation of its objectives.
The official participants in the Pact have been grouped into a number of categories:participating and facilitating states, observing states, international organizations and institutions, and regional initiatives.
