1

Check against delivery!

Dimitrij Rupel

OPENING DOORS, USING WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY

»Challenges to European Stability«

Munich Conference on Security Policy

February 9, 2008

 Dimitrij Rupel is Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Slovenia and current President of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union.

Stability

  1. Often we identify stability with tradition, durability, authority, discipline, conservativism, security and closed – rather than open – systems. This may be connected with strict division of spheres of influence, with »balance of power« etc. In a way, such was the situation in the divided Europe after WW II. Stability is appreciated, because it is associated with peace. Sometimes we appreciate countries and regimes, not necessarily in Europe, because they are stable, at peace with themselves and with others, even if they are less than perfect in the democratic department.
  2. Of course, it is questionable, whether traditional or closed systems are indeed stable. They are often inefficient and surprisingly fragile. In the EU, we believe that openness of systems, democracy andcultural variety are elements of stability. We believe that differences are the binding material, the glue of modern Europe.
  3. In the beginning of nineteen seventies, when I believed that the Communist system in Yugoslavia was powerful and eternal, a professor of mine who had been a Partisan »Komissar« during WW II, said to me: You should know that the Communist system is a very fragile thing! I understood what he meant only many years later.
  4. After 1975, with the Helsinki process, and especially after 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe sought a new kind of stability, based on ideas like »open doors« and »windows of opportunity«. The landscape behind these doors and windows was »Europe whole and free«. The Helsinki process, the fall of the Berlin Wall and ensuing extension of the West towards the East meant transition to new stability.
  5. New stability emerged with the break-up of Soviet Union and of Yugoslavia… with enlargement of NATO and EU, with the 2003 Thessaloniki agenda for Western Balkans, the European Neighbourhood Policy towards the East and towards the Mediterranean…

Strategies

  1. The EU and NATO have contributed substantially to making Europe whole and free. Enlargements of 2004 were an important success. Continuation of the enlargement processes is necessary. We should finally end the Yugoslav crisis which means substantial invitations from the EU to Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania… The EU should take responsibility for Kosovo. Croatia and Turkey should intensify their approach to membership in the EU.
  2. The world of the OSCE as one world.
  3. Unanimity regarding major threats: terrorism, energy security and climate change.
  4. Intercultural dialogue: developing relations with the Muslim world, particularly with Arabs. Building relations of mutual respect.

Future challenges in South-Eastern Europe

  1. Challenges to the new stability: failure of EU Constitutional Treaty, delays and setbacks in Western Balkans; Serbia and ICTY, »romantic« Kosovo, unity of the EU…
  2. New stability should succeed with the end of the Yugoslav crisis and with stabilization of Western Balkans.
  3. Signing the political agreement with Serbia. The EU supports the European oriented statesmen of Serbia. What we need, is explaining the challenges and achievements of the democratic forces (Đinđić); promotion of intellectual and administration capacities of Serbia. (Regarding the bomb in Belgrade.) But Serbia is responsible for the safety and security of its citizens at home and abroad! Serbia is responsible to enforce law and bring to justice all that have broken it.
  1. EU mission to Kosovo. New responsibility for the political elite of Kosovo.
  2. Settling »the name issue« between Greece and FYROM/Macedonia. Flexibility, compromise.
  3. Bringing to conclusion the B&H reforms and end legislation problems.
  4. A new partnership between the EU and the Russian Federation.There is a need for a strategic debate on the future EU-Russia relations.
  5. Nationalism, problems of transition from »Socialist« system to market economy, responsible administration, lack of state and democratic tradition, economic reforms, demography…
  6. Multi-cultural society; European Union as the future context for WB; Serbia Task Force to end the Yugoslav crisis, to manage the past, cope with the future, opportunities for the young generation.

