Yes – as the EU demonstrated by its decisions in late 2005, to open accession negotiations with Croatia, to recognise the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as a candidate, and to start negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Montenegro, with Bosnia and Herzegovina and with Serbia. The Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Albania was signed in June 2006.

The EU will stick to its commitment to stability and the European perspective for the Western Balkans. The EU's beneficial influence in the region would be seriously eroded if it suggested doubts about the Western Balkans’ long-term prospect of membership. The European perspective for the whole region helps keep it on a peaceful and stable track, and is the key to finding a sustainable solution for regional problems still urgently needing solutions.

They all have the prospect of accession, but the pace depends on their own pace of reform. Croatia opened accession negotiations in October 2005. Following the Commission opinion on 9 November 2005 on the membership application of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the European Council decided in December 2005 to grant it candidate status, and will make a decision in due course on when to open accession negotiations. Albania has signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement – an important step in the road towards the EU for countries in the region. The EU is currently negotiating a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Montenegro and with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia have been interrupted due to the non-fulfilment by Serbia of the conditionality regarding full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Once Serbia establishes full cooperation with the ICTY negotiations will resume.

The European perspective of the Western Balkans is open also to Kosovo. UN-led talks started in late 2005 on the future status of Kosovo, which is still under the administration of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Once the status has been settled, it is anticipated that Kosovo will be capable of engaging further in the Stabilisation and Association process.

The Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) is the EU’s policy framework for the Western Balkan countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo (as defined by the UN Security Council Resolution 1244). Croatia, which has started accession negotiations in October 2005, remains part of the process. The SAp will remain the EU policy for the Western Balkans all the way to membership. It is a key strategic and political element in the EU's long-term engagement, explicitly linked to the prospect of EU accession, and adjusted to the level of development of each of the countries in the region, allowing them to move at their own pace, while strongly encouraging regional cooperation. It is a progressive partnership, in which the EU offers a mixture of trade concessions, economic and financial assistance and contractual relationships – through Stabilisation and Association Agreements.

They are not treated differently. It is simply that they are each evolving in their own way and at their own speed. The EU approach to the region and the countries within it is comprehensive and coherent, but it inevitably responds to the specific circumstances of each country.

The EU is the biggest donor to the region. For the period 2000-2006 the following amounts have been allocated (in € million):