The Council noted the outcome of the last session of the
Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board that took
place in Brussels on 26-27 February 2008. The Council
welcomed the PIC Steering Board’s unanimous decision that
the Office of the High Representative (OHR) will remain in
place and continue to carry out its mandate under the
Dayton/Paris Peace Agreement until necessary objectives and
conditions as set out in the PIC Steering Board Declaration
are met. The Council shared the PIC Steering Board’s
concern over challenges to the Dayton/Paris Peace
Agreement. The Council confirmed its agreement to the goals
of transition and ownership and reiterated its readiness to
continue its engagement.
The Council noted that Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has
made progress with regard to the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA). It urged BiH authorities to
make further efforts to ensure swift and effective
fulfilment of all the four conditions necessary for signing
the SAA. Furthermore, the Council noted that important
underlying problems remain and called upon all parties in
BiH to work together in order to overcome them as soon as
possible.
The Council reiterated its full support to BiH’s European
perspective. Recalling its conclusions of 28 January 2008,
the Council welcomed the intention of the European
Commission to launch soon a visa dialogue with BiH.
STABILITY PACT/REGIONAL CO-OPERATION COUNCIL
The Council underlined the importance of regional
co-operation in South Eastern Europe and welcomed the
successful outcome of the joint meeting of the final
Regional Table of the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe and the inaugural meeting of the Regional
Co-operation Council (RCC) on 27 February 2008 in Sofia,
which marked the formal handover from the Stability Pact to
the RCC. The establishment of the RCC is proof of
substantial progress in regional co-operation on
democratic, economic and security issues.
The Stability Pact has generated broad acceptance of the
view that regional co-operation is necessary and has
created shared understanding and strategies for common
issues, in particular in the fields of energy, trade,
refugee return and border control. The RCC will build on
these achievements as a more regionally owned, streamlined
and effective regional co-operation framework. The RCC can
play its full role only if the entire region is committed
to regional cooperation and if all parts of the region take
an active stand in its activities. Regional co-operation is
important for the European perspective of the Western
Balkans.
The EU is committed to support the RCC, co-operating in the
context of the SEECP (South-East European Co-operation
Process), and looks forward to the RCC providing the
framework for increased ownership and leadership by South
Eastern European countries, while representing a forum for
the continued involvement of the donor community.
The Council thanked Special Co-ordinator of the Stability
Pact Dr Erhard Busek and expressed its support for the
Secretary General of the RCC Mr Hido BiÅ¡Äević and the
future activities of the RCC.”