Doc. 8474
13 July 1999

Necessary measures to address the damage sustained by the countries of south-east Europe following the Kosovo crisis

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Ivanov and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and only expresses the views of the members who have signed it

1.       The crisis in Kosovo in all its aspects – humanitarian, political, economic and social – has had serious consequences for the countries of south-east Europe.

2.       The expulsion of ethnic Albanians from Kosovo has created a real danger of humanitarian catastrophe in two neighbouring countries of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY): Albania and “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and poses a threat to political stability in these countries.

3.       The large-scale destruction of the transport infrastructure in the FRY, and the cessation of traffic on the Danube have virtually paralysed the movement of people and goods through the country and have an extremely negative effect on trade and tourism in south-east Europe. Bulgaria is particularly affected by this situation, given that 60% of its exports are shipped via either the FRY or the Danube.

4.       A further negative consequence caused by the Kosovo crisis is that the countries of south-east Europe have become less attractive for foreign investment, which is essential for the economic development of the countries in transition.

5.       The emergence of serious economic and political difficulties in the countries of the region as a result of all these negative consequences cannot be ruled out.

6.       The peace agreement between NATO and the FRY and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999) which followed it, have put an end to the military hostilities in Kosovo, but have left a number of major questions unanswered:

i.       the drawing up of a plan on the time-scale and means for the return of Albanian refugees to Kosovo;

ii.       the drawing up of a strategy for the political and economic reconstruction of south-east Europe;

iii.       the setting up of a body responsible for co-ordinating all efforts to these ends.

7.       Consequently, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

i.       draw up a clear and comprehensive plan on the time-scale and means for the return of Albanian refugees to Kosovo, taking due account of all the details – transport, funding etc – relating to these activities;

ii.       set up an agency as the body to co-ordinate all activities relating to the reconstruction of the countries of south-east Europe;

iii.       contribute to the development of democratic institutions in the countries of south-east Europe in conformity with the Stability Programme for south-east Europe adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 7 May 1999 in Budapest;

iv.       encourage the setting up of a currency board in the countries of south-east Europe as a major factor for financial stabilisation;

v.       encourage the countries in the region to carry out a feasibility study on taking the necessary measures to introduce as soon as possible the common European currency – the Euro – in each of their countries;

vi.       support all efforts to remove trade barriers between the countries of south-east Europe and the European Union and conclude the corresponding customs agreements;

vii.       encourage the provision of political and financial guarantees to European Union investors in the countries of south-east Europe with a view to the speedy economic reconstruction of the region;

viii.       speed up the construction of pan-European motorways through south-east Europe as an essential precondition for the full integration of the countries of the region into the rest of Europe and, in this context, encourage the construction of a Danube bridge (Vidin – Calafat) as one of the extremely important sections of the E4 motorway in accordance with the decisions of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) Helsinki – 1997 and the TINA Programme of Directorate-General VII of the European Commission.

Signed : 1

Ivanov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Akçali, Turkey, EDG

Briane, France, EPP/CD

Bušić, Croatia, EPP/CD

Gligoroski, «the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia », EPP/CD

Kirilov, Bulgaria, SOC

Kitov, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Loutfi, Bulgaria, LDR

Martínez-Casañ, Spain, EPP/CD

Nothomb, Belgium, EPP/CD

Obuljen, Croatia, EPP/CD

Pollo, Albania, EPP/CD

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Stoyanova, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

Toshev, Bulgaria, EPP/CD

1        SOC: Socialist Group