The south Eastern Europe or the Balkans geographically is part of Europe and at
the same time it is the most undeveloped and unstable region. This region is
the only part of the continent which is not part of the European Union. Here
are included the countries of the western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Croatia, Kosova, FYRO Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro. This area is located at
the major cross roads between the Europe and near east which is of very big
importance for economic development, regarding the transport matter.
The history of the Balkans is known for wars since the ancient time to the
latest wars, invasions, clashes between empires and lately with the last wars
during the Milosevic’s dictatorship. All these has ensued the present
antagonist mood among the countries. The approach of the European Union and
others towards this issue is to promote cooperation within these countries with
the condition the membership in EU. With this aim on June 1999 in Cologne, EU
initiated the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. In the founding
document, more than 40 partner countries and organizations undertook the
initiative to strengthen the countries of SEE "in their efforts to foster
peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity in order to
achieve stability in the whole region" (SP).
It is very challenges-full to study what the forces and interests are that
would urge the involved countries to overcome the problems and cooperate
towards common interest in entering the European Union.
What efforts have the countries put; how the process is developing in this
matter and which are the forces that are pushing them to overcome the present
problems are the searching questions. The most interesting and complex in this
matter is the case of Kosova. Although the situation with Serbia is antagonist
it has been achieved that this two countries together with the surrounding
neighboring countries build a process with positive results regarding the
transport network development of the region.
Aspiration for peace, stability, economic prosperity stimulated the Western
Balkan countries to start the cooperation under the umbrella of Stability Pact.
The main forces that pushed these countries to cooperate are; conflict
resolution and minimisation, stabilisation process, economic development needs,
a pro EU foreign policy that required regional cooperation; do...
