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Stabilisation and Association Process - Background Documents

1. On 26 February 1996, the EU adopts a Regional Approach to the countries of South-Eastern Europe:

• Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 26 February 1996
  

2. On 29 April 1997, the Council establishes political and economic conditions to be fulfilled by these countries, as the basis for a coherent and transparent policy towards the development of bilateral relations in the field of trade, financial assistance and economic cooperation, as well as of contractual relations:

• Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 29 April 1997
  

3. The Conditionality Reports monitor compliance by the countries of South-Eastern Europe with these conditions:

• First Conditionality Report of 3 October 1997 - Regional Approach to the countries of South-Eastern Europe Compliance with the conditions set out in the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997 Part A [81 KB] Part B [49 KB]
  • Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 10 November 1997 following the publication of the first Conditionality Report
    
    
• Second Conditionality Report of 30 March 1998 - Regional Approach to the countries of South-Eastern Europe / Compliance with the conditions set out in the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997 .. [129 KB]
  • Operational Conclusions of 15 April 1998 [355 KB]
  • Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 27 April 1998 following the publication of the second Conditionality Report
    
    
• Third Conditionality Report of 19 October 1998 - Regional Approach to the countries of South-Eastern Europe / Compliance with the conditions set out in the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997 .. [132 KB]
  • Operational Conclusions COM(98)618 of 28 October 1998 [331 KB]
  • Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 9 November 1998 following the publication of the third Conditionality Report
    
    
• Fourth Conditionality Report of 17 May 1999 - Regional Approach to the countries of South-Eastern Europe / Compliance with the conditions set out in the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997 .. [131 KB]
• In the Operational Conclusions of 26 May 1999, the Commission proposes the creation of a Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) for the Western Balkan countries. The EU offers for the first time a prospect of EU integration. This is a historic turning point in the relations between the Western Balkan countries and the EU.
  • Operational Conclusions of 26 May 1999 [2 MB]
  • Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 21/22 June 1999 following the publication of the fourth Conditionality Report
    
    
• Fifth Conditionality Report of 9 February 2000: EU Stabilisation and Association process for countries of South-Eastern Europe / Compliance with the Council Conclusions of 29 April 1997 & 21/22 June 1999 .. [115 KB]
  • Operational Conclusions of 2 March 2000
  • Conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 20 March 2000 following the publication of the fifth Conditionality Report
  
  

4. Santa Maria de Feira European Council - 19 and 20 June 2000

The European Council meets in Santa Maria da Feira on 19 and 20 June 2000. It gives to the countries of the Western Balkans a European perspective: "all the countries concerned are potential candidates for EU membership".

• Presidency Conclusions
  

5. Zagreb Summit – 24 November 2000

The Summit underlines the connection between the progress in the countries of the region towards democracy, rule of law, regional reconciliation and cooperation on the one hand and the prospect of possible accession to the EU on the other hand.

• The Declaration of the Zagreb Summit

6. 2002-2003: Preparation of the Stabilisation and Association Reports

• Stabilisation and Association Process for South Eastern Europe, First Annual Report, COM(2002)163 final 3.4.2002
• Stabilisation and Association Process for South Eastern Europe, Second Annual Report, COM(2003)139 final 26.3.2003
  
  

7. Thessaloniki Summit - 16 June 2003

The Thessaloniki Summit confirms the European perspective of the Western Balkans and the SAP as the policy framework of their EU course. New additional Instruments are introduced, of which the most far-reaching are the European Partnerships, inspired by the Accession Partnerships.

In In advance of the Thessaloniki Summit, the Commission prepares a Communication to the Council and the European Parliament on the Western Balkans. In the Communication the Commission proposes to enrich the EU policy towards the region with the elements taken from the Enlargement process reinforcing the ultimate goal of extending EU membership to the Western Balkans.

• Thessaloniki Summit - Declaration
  
  

8. On 30 March 2004, the Commission prepares the third SAP Annual Report

• Stabilisation and Association Process for South Eastern Europe, Third Annual Report, COM(2004)202 final 30.03.2004
  
  

9. In October 2005 the Commission reports on the progress made by the Western Balkan countries. SAP Reports are called Progress Reports now:

• 2005 Enlargement Package
  
  

10.2006 Commission Communication on the Western Balkans

On 27 January 2006, the Commission adopts a Communication on the Western Balkans. It assesses progress made since the Thessaloniki Summit and sets out concrete measures to reinforce the EU policy for the Western Balkans and its instruments.

For more documents - Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA) or the Feasibility Studies on preparedness to negotiate a SAA with the EU for the countries which have not signed a SAA yet - please consult Countries' key documents:

• Albania
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Croatia
• Kosovo issues
• The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
• Montenegro
• Serbia