The key reform-incentive for all countries in the so called „Western Balkans“ is the perspective of a future integration into the European Union and for most of the countries also into NATO. After a period of disintegration the region started already from 2000 onwards to reintegrate – first on the field of economy – in establishing bilateral trade agreements and finally in late 2006 with signing the enlarged CEFTA agreement which is creating a free trade area in South Eastern Europe. A crucial start for the integration of the countries of SEE was the establishment of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern-Europe in Cologne which was reaffirmed later in Sarajevo in 1999 which laid the fundaments for an international community of dialogue and responsibility.

Goals

The FES-offices in SEE are working in the framework of the guiding ideas of the Stability Pact for the perspective of a future integration of the whole region into the European Union, for good neighborly relations and cooperation in this multiethnic region. In Macedonia we support the regional cooperation and the exchange of experiences and lessons learnt. The instruments used are among others the following: Expert advise from Central European Countries that entered the EU in 2004 as well as from other member countries of the Union in various fields of reform and transformation; dialogue projects between Macedonian politicians and researchers and their counterparts from EU member countries; regional conferences dealing with EU and NATO issues; establishment of contact and working relations among politicians and researchers from SEE as well as from EU.