"The Salzburg Declaration was a ringing endorsement of the Western Balkan countries' European perspective. This is particularly significant at a time when there is so much talk of enlargement fatigue. In Salzburg we sent a twin signal of encouragement — to the peoples in the Western Balkan countries that the often arduous road to Europe is worthwhile, and to the citizens of our Member States that the EU is able to find forward-looking solutions even to difficult questions." These were the opening words of Foreign Minister Plassnik’s report on the results of the Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers in Salzburg.
"Difficult decisions are pending in the region in 2006. The Salzburg Declaration is not a hollow compromise, but a clear signal at a crucial time for all the countries in the region. The European Union is making a difference in the Balkans. The major progress achieved by the countries in the region since Thessaloniki is already evident from the subjects we discussed in Salzburg, such as trade liberalisation, the fight against organised crime or the easing of travel restrictions”, the Minister declared, stressing that there was still a difficult road ahead.
What the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans now needed to do was to drive forward the practical work on each issue step by step. Regional cooperation should also be intensified, e.g. the creation of a free trade area on the basis of the central European free trade area. "On the path from a stabilisation phase to a dynamic European process, it is important to point up the individual countries’ responsibility for their own affairs”, Plassnik stressed.
Concerning the enlargement debate, Plassnik said there had to be openness regarding the expectations of the people in the EU Member States and the EU’s partner countries. "We owe it to each other to be frank. We cannot issue blank cheques. An individual approach to each individual country is called for", Plassnik declared, while stressing that the Union will be a fair partner for each country and its citizens. With regard to the EU’s capacity to accept new members, she pointed out that she had been the one to bring this criterion back into the public debate last year.
On the subject of the Middle East, Plassnik said the EU’s message to Hamas was clear and consistent. "Hamas is at a crossroads. It is up to Hamas to determine its future course. At any rate, our conditions for cooperation are clear and unchanged: renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel’s right to exist and honouring of existing agreements, including the road map." Plassnik also stated that the EU is prepared to continue supporting the Palestinian people, whereby it had to be beyond doubt that this assistance must not be used to finance terror or violence.
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