Athens , 17 February 2010

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

Today’s meeting on the subject of the draft law on the ratification of the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) comes at a time when Greece – the oldest member of the EU and NATO in the Balkans – is once again taking on a leading role in our region.

In this context, it is well known that Greece has put forward a specific proposal for the promotion of the EU accession course of the Western Balkans – Agenda 2014 – as a follow-up to the Thessaloniki Agenda, which established the  European perspective of the Western Balkans. And it was we who put forward the Thessaloniki Agenda, during our 2003 EU Presidency.

Our message is simple and symbolic: The European Union, the most effective and successful of European peace projects, needs to step up to its responsibilities in the Balkan region. It needs to undertake its responsibilities and contribute decisively to peace and stability here in our region.

It is among the firm goals of Greek foreign policy that the Balkans be transformed into a truly European neighbourhood of peace, democracy, prosperity and stability; a region of cooperation and good neighbourly relations. Everyone agrees that the incorporation of the Western Balkans into the EU is a firm high priority for Greece. Of course, full compliance with all of the criteria and prerequisites set by the EU is an essential precondition for this.

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

Ratification of the EU-Montenegro Stabilization and Association Agreement is yet another step towards the realization of this goal, particularly when we bear in mind that ratification is pending only from two member states: Greece and Belgium.

The Stabilization and Association Process is the framework that regulates the EU’s relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. Within this framework, Montenegro – like all of the other countries in the region – is preparing for future accession to the EU via a set of obligations it is being called upon to undertake via reforms and in order to achieve the major goals: smooth functioning of democratic institutions, establishment of a market economy and the capacity to meet the obligations of an EU member state. The combination of incentives and conditionality with regard to the institution of the necessary reforms is the process chosen by the EU in its relations with third countries. The fact that Montenegro is a country with a clear European perspective bolsters both the demands and the expectations of the EU.

The Stabilisation and Association Process covers the whole range of the Union’s political and technical dialogue with this country. The aims of the process are stabilisation through economic development, democratization and establishment of rule of law, the consolidation of peaceful relations between neighbouring states and, naturally, their long-term incorporation into European structures.

Montenegro will begin implementation of the SAA as it awaits the European Commission’s assessment of the application for accession it submitted in December 2008. The Commission has already begun the process of evaluating Montenegro’s application and has stated that its goal is to prepare a “fair and balanced opinion.” The relevant opinion is expected within 2010. Greece supports the need for close examination of the application in a fair and substantial manner. Moreover, the path to full accession must be kept open provided the conditions and prerequisites are met, particularly in the areas of rule of law, respect for human rights and good neighbourly relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen MPs,

The future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. That is our reply to those who talk of enlargement fatigue. We announced the Agenda 2014 initiative. We think that the target-date of 2014 will work as an incentive for further intensification of efforts by individual states to approach the EU and to resolve pending issues in the region based on good neighbourly relations, which are, after all, a prerequisite of the SAP.

In light of the above, it is my assessment that the ratification of the SAA gives Montenegro the opportunity to reaffirm – through implementation of the SAA – its will to move ahead towards accession, undertaking, of course, a number of obligations that will bring mutual benefits for all the involved parties. For our part, we support the Spanish Presidency’s effort to complete the SAA ratification process in a timely manner, so that the Agreement can be put into effect at the soonest possible time and so that the first EU-Montenegro Association Council can be held within the first six months of 2010.

Thank you.