Conference on the Western Balkans adopted final declaration

The heads of government, foreign ministers and ministers of economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia, as well as representatives of the Commission of the European Union (EU), Austria and France, participated on 28th August at the first “Conference on the Western Balkans” in Berlin. 

The Conference adopted the Final Declaration with 18 items:

        “1. We all agree that this conference today should give a boost to a period of four years, in which we will jointly work harder to achieve further concrete progress in the reform process when solving bilateral and internal state issues and reconciliation within and between societies in the region.

        We also share a common desire to strengthen regional economic cooperation and to lay the basis for sustainable growth.

        2. Together we decided that in the next four years, until 2018, we shall meet annually in this form, in order to implement the agreed agenda of today's meeting, and to substantiate it with further concrete projects.

        Austrian Chancellor has today called for the first next conference in Austria in 2015, which will represent an opportunity for a first overview.

        On the following conferences, we want to continue our work on critical issues for the future of the Western Balkans.

        3. 15 years ago, the news from the region were marked by war, persecution and destruction.

        Today it is clear that the region has made tremendous progress in establishing stability, development of good neighbourly relations and the modernization of states, society and economy.

        4. EU's enlargement policy has significantly contributed to this progress.

        All Western Balkan countries are convinced that their future is in the EU.

        5. Federal Government of Germany explicitly emphasizes its commitment to the European perspective for the Western Balkans.

        All Western Balkan countries will have the option to join the EU, once they meet the prerequisites for accession.

        Germany is aware of its responsibility for a peaceful, stable, democratic and legal future of the Western Balkans, and will continue to support the region in this way.

        6. All participants see the need to resolve outstanding bilateral issues as soon as possible in terms of good neighbourly relations and enhancing stability in the region.

        The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo have reaffirmed their resolve to expedite the process of normalization of relations.

        The same applies to tackling the issue of names between the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia and Greece.

        Participants believe that this dispute must be resolved urgently, through compromise on all sides.

        Where good influence of regional neighbours can facilitate overcoming internal political challenges, it must be used.

        This in particular applies to the revival of the reform process in BiH.

        7. Western Balkans countries intend to establish enhanced cooperation with each other.

        In this sense regional organizations such as the “Regional Cooperation Council” will play an important role.

        8. Regional cooperation should include the level of civil society.

        Participating countries reaffirm their concerted desire to build a trans-national exchange, especially for the young generation.

        9. Further improvements remain a special challenge for the young democracies of the Western Balkans.

        10. Participating countries must jointly take further measures to combat corruption and organized crime.

        Western Balkan countries have confirmed their willingness to undertake further reforms to increase legal security in their countries, preserving and strengthening the independence of the judiciary, and to cooperate more intensively in cross-border regional and bilateral structures.

        11. In pluralist democracy the opposition must also have a role in parliamentary structure and use it.

        However, the politically active civil society can also in a constructive manner additionally support society in the Western Balkans countries, and thus bring them closer to the EU.

        This, among other things, implies pluralistic media landscape, independent unions and the economy that are exempt of political influence, in order to fulfil their role as part of society.

        Germany still considers itself obliged to support media freedom in the region.

        For this purpose, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the framework of today's conference is organizing a workshop for the twelve leading journalists from all countries of the region.

        12. Sustainable economic growth, and thus long-term increase of prosperity for the benefit of the people is only possible with open markets and foreign investment.

        Positive investment climate is especially crucial for the engagement of small and medium enterprises.

        Legal security and policy of zero tolerance for corruption are in focus.

        The participating countries are willing to improve cooperation with investment agencies and exchange of experiences with the company “Germany Trade and Invest”.

        13. Western Balkan countries should intensify their efforts to overcome the current import-export deficit.

        German economy in the spring of 2015 shall support the further strengthening of the export capacity of the region by starting the purchasing power initiative for the Western Balkans.

        14. Competitiveness must be further increased through the regional exploitation of value chains.

        Initiative of the German economy for a regional conference in September 2014 in Montenegro and activities of Regional Corporation Council (RCC) will specifically contribute to this.

        15. States participants believe that the European Energy Policy for the Western Balkans is gaining importance.

        Especially in terms of security of supply, energy efficiency and climate protection, regional cooperation is an important component in the framework of the Energy Community of South East Europe.

        Western Balkans countries will participate extensively in the further development of the energy community and will bridge the gaps of implementation.

        16. States participants believe that traffic community for the Western Balkans, through improving logistics connectivity of the region according to strong demand of European market, can provide positive impulses for economic development.

        The same applies to the construction of information and communication infrastructure with reliable framework conditions.

        17. States participants believe that the reduction in the rate of youth unemployment requires academic and vocational education according to needs.

        Projects of the German economy aim to support professional education in the countries of the Western Balkans.

        18. Germany is prepared under the existing program of economic cooperation and development to implement additional measures to support regional countries to effectively use European funds for EU accession “Instrument for Pre-Acce