An emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Luxembourg yesterday agreed to adopt a long-term Stability Pact for southeastern Europe and a budget of #250 million to carry it out.
In an attempt to resist calls for instant solutions, the ministers sought to apply the EU model to the Balkans as a way of seeking a long-term solution to the region's propensity for internecine war fare.
The Stability Pact, once negotiated with the Balkan states, will offer them association agreements with the EU involving economic assistance, trade agreements and other benefits. Such association agreements are generally intermediate steps towards eventual EU membership. It is expected that the initial #250 million fund allocated to the Pact will be increased as time goes on.
Ireland's Foreign Minister, Mr Andrews, said: "The importance of the Stability Pact is that it is not a fire fighting proposal but is meant to encourage the Balkans to join in and work with the EU."
The final text agreed asserts that the medium and long-term stabilisation of south-eastern Europe is necessary for EU foreign stability and security policy interests.
An international conference is planned to start the process that will bring together all of the countries of the region and representatives of the international community in a "round table" format.
Mark Brennock adds: Ireland, other EU neutrals and Italy combined to ensure a subtle change in the final declaration of the EU foreign ministers on the Kosovo situation. The initial draft said: "The use of severest measures, including military action, has been both necessary and justified."
However, Mr Andrews was among those who told the meeting that in the English language the word "justified" suggested there was a legal basis for the action, and Ireland was not happy to be associated with a statement stating this.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Robin Cook, then suggested that the word "warranted" be substituted for "justified" and this was agreed.