Autumn summit to hold up Croatia as model for reform

Date: 22/06/2000

By Simon Taylor

THE EU is considering holding a planned summit with leaders of the former Yugoslavian states in Croatia to hold up the country as an example of the benefits of democratic reform.

Union governments are also keen to invite Albania to take part in the

meeting to prevent the country slipping backwards, even though it was not part of the Yugoslavian Federation.

EU leaders this week supported a plan by French President Jacques Chirac to organise the summit during his country's presidency of the Union.

French officials said Chirac was eager to hold the meeting in Zagreb to send a signal to the region that implementing political and economic reform can bring real benefits in terms of support from the EU. "It should be possible to hold it in Croatia to make it a symbol of what can be achieved if you go down the road of reform and democracy," said one.

Croatia is being hailed as the biggest success story among the states which emerged from the break-up of former Yugoslavia in 1991. Since President Franjo Tudjman's death last year, the country has made major steps towards improving relations with the EU in areas including the return of refugee and co-operation on handing over people accused of war crimes. In recognition of this, Zagreb will start talks on a special political and trade accord with the Union later this year.

A report by External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana presented to the Feira summit emphasised the new opportunities created by the successful transition to democracy in Croatia, saying it had "substantially increased the critical mass for potential regional cooperation in the Balkans".

Union governments also privately supported moves to invite Albania to the meeting to maintain the momentum for reform.

The Commission recently told Tirana that it needed to do more work before it would be ready to start negotiations on a trade and political accord. The decision disappointed the Albanian government, which was looking for more signs of encouragement from the EU.

Officials say representatives of the Serbian opposition will almost certainly be invited to the summit as well in an effort to boost their political support ahead of federal elections in Yugoslavia in November.

They add that the meeting could be held before a series of other crucial elections in the region which will provide a major indicator of the countries' commitment to democratic reform. Municipal elections will take place in Kosovo and Albania in October and general elections are planned in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in November. Patten said holding the summit before the polls would "demonstrate our commitment to the region and the advantages of taking the democratic road".

The EU is considering holding a planned summit with leaders of the former Yugoslavian states in Croatia to hold up the country as an example of the benefits of democratic reform.