The Western Balkans is the term used by the European Union for the sub-region comprising Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.  Kosovo, under UN administration, is a province of Serbia.  With the exception of Albania, the countries of the Western Balkans were formerly constituent republics of the old Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The 1990s were a turbulent decade in the Western Balkans, as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia broke-up and new countries were created.  Ethnic and civil wars affected all the countries of the region, either directly or indirectly, exacting a high price.  Many thousands died, many more thousands were displaced and economies were devastated by conflict.  The disruption delayed the process of reform and transition from command to market economies which other former Communist states in central and eastern Europe underwent during that decade.  The Western Balkans today face unresolved conflict issues, serious post-conflict problems such as the prevalence of organised crime, and the challenge of constructing societies based on respect for human rights and the rule of law.  Perhaps the greatest long term threat to stability is posed by economic underdevelopment, with persistently low levels of foreign investment and persistently high rates of unemployment.

Irish Aid’s role in the Western Balkans

Since 1996, Ireland has contributed over €30 million in reconstruction and development assistance to the countries of the Western Balkans.  Ireland is an active participant in the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, which was established (at the EU’s initiative) in 1999 to stimulate economic and political reform in South Eastern Europe, i.e. the countries of the Western Balkans together with Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova. The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe is a political declaration of commitment and a framework agreement on international co-operation to develop a shared strategy for stability and growth in South Eastern Europe. The main decision making body of the Stability Pact is the Regional Table chaired by the Special Coordinator. There are three working tables that operate under the Regional Table dealing with Democratisation and Human Rights (Working Table I), Economic Reconstruction (Working Table II) and Security Issues (Working Table III). Irish Aid administers the disbursement of funds to the Stability Pact.   In December 2002 six key objectives for the Stability Pact were agreed as follows: Media, Local Democracy and Cross Border Co-operation, Inter-Regional Trade/Investment Compact, Regional Infrastructure, Organised Crime, Migration and Asylum/Refugees. Irish Aid also makes an annual contribution to the Investment Compact (Working Table II) and funds the appointment of a Deputy Director of Working Table II dealing with Economic Development.

Irish peacekeepers serve in the SFOR (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and KFOR (Kosovo) peacekeeping missions, while Irish police serve with the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Ireland contributes observers to the OSCE and EUMM missions in the region and seconds staff to the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.