Strategy for integrated border management

3. EUROPEAN UNION AND INTEGRATED BORDER MANAGEMENT
Relations between the SCG and the EU, marked in the nineties by sanctions against
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and mediatory role of the bodies and
representatives of the European Union, changed completely in October 2000.
Already in November of that year a Framework Agreement on the realization of aid
and support between the FRY and EU was signed, and the FRY became participant
in the process of stabilization and association. The EU adopted in October 2004 a
new ‘double track’ approach toward Serbia and Montenegro in the field of economic
harmonisation.
Regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations in the region of southeast
Europe are still under the influence of trends in former decades, and level of political,
economic, cultural, judicial, and other forms of co-operation are unsatisfactory.
Ever since the end of 2000, a considerable improvement in relations with neighbours
and other states in southeast Europe was achieved. There are numerous multilateral
(particularly important is the Agreement on Succession) relations with most of the
states in the region, and a whole range of very important bilateral agreements were
singed, resolving not only the matters needed in inter-state relations (e.g.
establishment of diplomatic relations), but also a great number of issues referring to
status, mobility, or material interests of legal entities and private persons.
Diverse regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations are among priorities of
the SCG foreign policy, and also of her policy in accessing the European Union.
Regional co-operation will be emphasized in the following fields: political dialogue,
free trade, freedom of movement of persons, goods, and capital, freedom of
settlement, and also a close co-operation in the fields of justice and internal affairs.
The concept of the European Union as regards the integrated border management
implies that the borders are to be open for trade and flow of people, for regional cooperation,
both within a region and between regions and the European Union.
Facilitation of the regular trans-border communication effectuates an economic
development of the whole region and contributes to diminishment of poverty. At the
same time, borders should be closed for criminal and other activities jeopardizing
stability and security in the region. The whole region has to fight against organized
crime, terrorism, illegal migrations, and human trafficking, particularly at border
crossings.