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Enlargement

5. People to People

The European Commission’s 2007-2008 Enlargement Strategy emphasizes that the citizens of the Western Balkans need to feel tangible improvements resulting from their countries' European integration. This is essential for them to assume ownership of reconciliation and of necessary reforms. People-to-people contacts should be maximized between the member states and the countries in the region, and across the region itself.

Easier travel to the European Union is an issue of utmost importance to the peoples and governments of the Western Balkans. In Thessaloniki, the EU recognized this fact and committed to steps for achieving this goal. Steps towards liberalizing travel need to take into account the internal security and migration interests of the EU. A visa-free regime has been in place with Croatia for many years. The Commission recently negotiated visa facilitation agreements together with readmission agreements with the other countries of the region.

Measures aimed at improving people-to-people contacts also include the expansion of education cooperation and mobility opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students under the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programmes. A further 100 students from the region may undertake postgraduate studies in EU in 2007/2008. From 2008, up to 500 undergraduate students will benefit annually from exchange programmes between the EU countries and the Western Balkans region. The Commission will explore, together with the member states and other bilateral donors, possibilities for further scholarship opportunities. Preaccession financial support will also be provided for participation of Western Balkan young people, youth organisations, cultural operators, civil society organisations and researchers into EU programmes. Many 2008 projects relate to the European Year for Intercultural Dialogue.

Under the Commission's new civil society facility, networking and exchange between civil society groups and their counterparts in the region and at European level are supported. The goal is to strengthen civil society bodies and their role in the political process, enhance the capacity of civil society organisations to develop cross-border projects and networks, and familiarize civil society representatives and opinion leaders with EU affairs. Projects cover human rights, gender equality, social inclusion, health, environment, business advocacy and representation, and consumer protection. Cooperation and transfer of know-how between business, trade union, and professional organisations in the partner countries and the corresponding EU level organizations are promoted. A visitors' programme familiarises with EU affairs key opinion makers active in national and local politics, religion, journalism, trade union, business associations, and brings them together with their EU counterparts.

People-to-people dialogue is also supported on the level of national parliaments. Active involvement of parliaments is key to countries' progress on the way to the EU. Parliamentary cooperation has further grown both within the Western Balkans and with the EU. In cooperation with the European Parliament, the Commission encourages activities focusing on European integration.