European Council
From the meeting in Luxembourg, 11 October 1999
14 Oct 1999
MEETING WITH DEMOCRATIC FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF YUGOSLAVIA
In the margins of the Council, Ministers held a meeting with representatives of Democratic Forces of the FRY (representatives of political parties, NGOs, national minorities). The purpose of this meeting was to strengthen the Union’s relations with these forces and to encourage them to work towards peace, democratic change and economic prosperity in the FRY. The Union underlined also its preparedness to give substantial assistance to a future democratic Yugoslavia and to support the full integration of the FRY into the international community.
At the end of the meeting, the EU issued the following statement:
EU-FRY – a new beginning
The EU, and representatives of the democratic forces of the FRY met in Luxembourg on 11 October 1999. The meeting was convened in the interests of the strengthening of good relations between the EU and the people of the FRY, and in the spirit of aspiration towards democracy and economic prosperity.
The EU and the people of the FRY have a common interest in working with the international community to enhance stability and growth in South Eastern Europe. Such a process is possible only through democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, market economy and the development of good neighbourly relations in the region.
As soon as the governments of Serbia and the FRY are under the political control of democratic forces, and as soon as all individuals indicted by the ICTY have been removed from Federal and Republican offices and the FRY fully cooperates with ICTY, as part of a general and determined effort to make a new beginning in the region, the EU undertakes to pursue the following objectives:
The EU and its Member States will:
– Support democratic Serbian and FRY governments as the legitimate expression of the desire of the people of Serbia and the FRY to be part of the European family;
– Lift EU sanctions at an early stage;
– Launch EU reconstruction programs at an early stage;
– Strengthen EU relations with the FRY and work towards a Stabilisation and Association Agreement in line with other Western Balkans Countries;
– Support FRY membership in international and European organisations, facilitate the FRY’s entry into the international financial institutions and support FRY participation in regional political processes and co-operation, including the Stability Pact;
– Facilitate the rapid resolution of SFRY succession issues;
– Work closely with the Council of Europe to help the FRY identify and implement the reforms needed for early Council of Europe membership;
– Persuade the countries of the former Yugoslavia to normalise relations with the FRY;
– Continue to exert pressure on countries of former Yugoslavia to make rapid progress on returns for refugees/deportees living in FRY.
The European Union in turn expects the representatives of Serbia and the FRY to pursue the following goals:
– The introduction of legislation to bring Serbia and the FRY into full compliance with the principles of democratic government and institutions, human rights, the rule of law, independent and pluralistic media and respect for minority rights;
– Holding of free and fair elections with international supervision;
– The opening of a genuine dialogue with all concerned on the future of the FRY;
– The establishment of good cooperation with neighbouring countries;
– Full implementation of the Dayton Agreement for Bosnia and Herzegovina including establishment of diplomatic relations, refugee returns and co-operation with the ICTY.
The European Union is committed to a continued common process for discussion on political and economic issues. The future work will address issues such as democracy, economic development, reconstruction and energy development with a view to developing a closer relationship between the EU and the FRY.
