Memo: Zagreb Summit – recent achievements in regional cooperation and concrete measures to make the EU perspective tangible for the citizens of the Western Balkans

“The European Council [...] reiterated its determination to fully and effectively support the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, which will become an integral part of the EU, once they meet the established criteria.”- this is how EU leaders defined the Union’s policy towards the Western Balkans at their Summit meeting in Thessaloniki in 2003. Their political commitment has been translated into concrete action in the ‘Thessaloniki Agenda’, spelling out the political process for bringing these countries closer to the EU. In 2006 the Commission proposed practical measures to make the European perspective more tangible for the people of the Western Balkans. Further strengthening the regional cooperation, including the establishment of a free trade area building on CEFTA, improving people to people contacts through visa facilitation and scholarships, as well as continuing financial assistance are the main elements. Besides the important decisions taken to enhance local ownership in regional cooperation, the Zagreb Summit will also provide a platform for stock taking of the achievements so far in regional cooperation and in EU-Western Balkans relations.