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For a long time in the 1990s, the basic notion for US/EU-involvement in
the Balkans was "Together in, together out". Although much has been
achieved since that time, the job is far from being completed.
Presently, "Together Out" does not seem possible. The international
commitment to the Balkans has acquired a much longer time perspective
than originally anticipated as it has become clear that without the
continued presence of international military and police forces and
civilian administrative personnel no consolidation of the region can be
expected. However, new challenges have emerged elsewhere and
politicians in the US are facing increasing problems when trying to
justify further American engagement in the Balkans. Thus the slogan is
now changing into "US slowly out, more EU in?"
In this situation it becomes important to reflect on and discuss what
obvious or possible different perceptions and approaches have been
applied by the US and Europe/Germany vis-á-vis Southeastern
Europe. Key areas for discussion include:
- the effects of a decreasing U.S. military
presence (and corresponding decrease in influence?) in the region and
the resulting opportunity for successful common EU foreign policy;
- the U.S. focus on energy resources in contrast
to the European focus on normal trade and small scale foreign direct
investment (complementarity or competition?);
- U.S. support for a sovereign Kosovo versus
European fears of the consequence of such independence in Bosnia
Hercegovina and Macedonia; and
- European support for a united Serbian and
Montenegro in contrast to American ambivalence on the issue.
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