1999/345/CFSP: Common Position of 17 May 1999 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning a Stability Pact for South- Eastern Europe
28. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 133/1 (Acts adopted pursuant to Title V of the Treaty on European Union) COMMON POSITION of 17 May 1999 adopted by the Council on the basis of Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, concerning a Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe (1999/345/CFSP) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (8) Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 15 thereof; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be invited to participate in such a Stability Pact once it has met the necessary conditions, Whereas: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) on 8 and 26 April 1999 the Council adopted conclusions concerning South-Eastern Europe; a political solution to the Kosovo crisis must be embedded in a determined effort geared towards stabilising the region as a whole; a Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe should be prepared; such a Stability Pact should be founded on the UN Charter, the principles and commitments of the OSCE, and the relevant treaties and conventions of the Council of Europe, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights; the European Union should play the leading role in the Stability Pact, the OSCE has a key role to play in fostering security and stability, and the Stability Pact should be developed and imple- mented in close association with the OSCE; the European Union, within the framework of the regional approach and beyond, is already active in strengthening democratic and economic institu- tions in the region through a number of well estab- lished programmes; the European Union will drawn the region closer to the perspective of full integration of these countries into its structures through a new kind of contrac- tual relationship, taking into account the individual situation of each country, with a perspective of European Union membership on the basis of the Treaty of Amsterdam and once the Copenhagen criteria have been met; HAS ADOPTED THIS COMMON POSITION: Article 1 1. the European Union will play the leading role in establishing a Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. The aim of this Stability Pact is to help ensure 2. cooperation among its participants towards compre- hensive measures for the long-term stabilisation, security, democratisation, and economic reconstruction and devel- opment of the region, and for the establishment of durable good-neighbourly relations among and between them, and with the international community. The European Union will work to ensure the crea- 3. tion among the participants themselves of a ‘South- Eastern Europe Regional Table' to carry forwards the Stability Pact. Article 2 In order to further the objectives stated in Article 1 1. the European Union will convene a conference on South- Eastern Europe. take place at The conference will the level of 2. Foreign Ministers, if possible no later than the end of July 1999. The conference will be held using the Royaumont (excluding the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia format until the international the conditions of community for its participation). In addition, representa- tives of Canada, Japan, EBRD, EIB, IMF, WB, OECD, UN, NATO, WEU, UNHCR, as well as representatives of regional initiatives will also participate at the conference. it has met L 133/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 28. 5. 1999 The conference will be prepared at a meeting in 3. Königswinter (Petersberg) on 27 May 1999 at the level of senior officials, in the format set out in paragraph 2. With a view to this, work for this conference will be carried forward urgently. Article 4 This Common Position shall take effect on the date of its adoption. Article 5 Article 3 This Common Position shall be published in the Official Journal. The European Union will actively support the coun- 1. tries in the region in achieving the objectives on the Stability Pact. 2. The European Union will undertake together with international donors to organise a donors/reconstruction conference for South-Eastern Europe. Done at Brussels, 17 May 1999. For the Council The President J. FISCHER