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4/7/2003 The second meeting of the Kosovo Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) Tracking Mechanism (STM) took place in Pristina on 30 June and 1 July 2003. European Commission experts discussed selected chapters of justice and home affairs, media policy, telecommunications and transport policy with experts from UNMIK and the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government. The purpose of the STM is to ensure EU-compatible reforms in these areas. Progress on earlier recommendations made during the first meeting of 13 March 2003 on fundamental principles of democracy and the rule of law, key market economic reforms and energy policy was also reviewed. The delegations were headed, for Kosovo, by the Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General Mr. Charles Brayshaw and the Prime Minister Mr. Bajram Rexhepi. They were accompanied by experts from UNMIK and the PISG. Mr. Reinhard Priebe, Director for Western Balkans at the European Commission, led the European Commission's delegation. The second working meeting of the SAp Tracking Mechanism began with a discussion on the necessary institutional and organisational mechanisms in UNMIK and the PISG, which are important for following up the process and devising and implementing the relevant policies in an overall EU-context. More detailed discussions concentrated on selected Justice and Home Affairs issues, in particular police matters and the fight against organised crime. Further subject areas that were examined in detail were media, telecommunications and transport. Recommendations based on these discussions will be drawn up to guide future reforms. The discussions also covered measures being undertaken in Kosovo to implement the first recommendations of the European Commission. The next meeting will take place in a few months, when sufficient progress will have been made in the implementation of the policy recommendations issued to date and when the next sectors for discussion will have been prepared. The Stabilisation and Association process (SAp) is the EU's framework for relations with the Western Balkans region. The objective of the process is the stabilisation of the region through political and economic reforms, underpinning progress towards the European Union. The European Union's firm commitment to draw South Eastern Europe closer was only recently re-emphasised by the Thessaloniki Summit. The SAp Tracking Mechanism (STM) for Kosovo in the framework of the EU's Stabilisation and Association Process is a joint technical working group of UNMIK, the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG) and the European Commission. Its purpose is to support Kosovo in its EU-compatible structural reforms through policy advice and guidance. This will help to keep Kosovo firmly on track in its progress towards Europe. Kosovo benefits already from the various instruments of the SAp, i.e. massive financial aid through the CARDS programme, generous trade concessions and concrete policy advice, irrespective of its current status under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. The purpose of the SAp Tracking Mechanism is further to deepen this technical assistance and advice on key sectors though a regular expert-level dialogue and follow-up. Discussions in the sectoral expert meetings are based on detailed replies by UNMIK and PISG to technical questionnaires in each area, sent by the European Commission. The STM process within Kosovo continues between and after meetings.
The time between the meetings allows for the elaboration of responses
to the questionnaires and the implementation of the sectoral
recommendations. ©EuropaWorld 2003 - Copyright Policy / About us / Endorsements / Contact us |
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