A significant political reinforcement and rationalisation of the EU's commitment to the western Balkans was signalled last night with the decision of EU leaders to task Mr Chris Patten and Mr Javier Solana with day-to-day co-ordination of the Union's involvement in the region.
Following sharp criticism in the US of both the delivery of EU aid and the ineffectiveness of Mr Bob Hombach, the man charged with implementing the regional stability pact, Mr Patten and Mr Solana tabled a tough paper to the summit arguing for more coherence of approach and a stronger political drive to see policies implemented. Mr Patten is Commissioner for External Affairs and Mr Solana is foreign and security policy supremo.
Representing the EU's cash resources in the form of the Commission and diplomacy in the Council of Ministers, the two men are also believed to have sufficient standing to engage prime ministers directly in the work. Mr Hombach, although nominated by the EU, is actually employed by the 40-member-state stability pact, and is said to be "not unhappy" with the move.
The paper, which was widely praised for its direct, no-nonsense style, also suggests opening up EU markets to farm produce from the region to help its cashstrapped economies and setting out concretely what benefits countries in the region can expect from association agreements with the EU.
But apart from broad support for the strategy, last night's dinner discussion was expected to focus on the more immediate issue of next week's cash-pledging conference.
The fear that the presence of the Austrians would trigger a major summit confrontation seemed largely media-inspired, although there was a clear frostiness in the body language of the collective photo. Austria's Chancellor, Mr Wolfgang Schussel, attempted repeatedly but vainly to cut in on a conversation between the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Mr Blair's official spokesman was dismissive about the suggestions of a snub. "He was talking to the Irish Prime Minister a bit more than the chap on his right," was all he would say. Last night, Mr Schussel got their undivided attention at dinner, but short shrift from the Prime Minister of Portugal, Mr Antonio Guterres, who responded for the 14 that it was too early to talk of thawing the diplomatic cold-shoulder. And, reflecting a major Portuguese preoccupation, the East Timorese leader, Mr Xanana Gusmao, was invited yesterday to a breakfast meeting with the EU diplomatic troika. Mr Guterres paid warm tribute to him afterwards but announced no fresh EU aid.
Mr Gusmao, leader of the National Council of Timorese Resistance, indicated he was happy with the current level of European help. "Our people are struggling with very great difficulty with their day-to-day problems," he said. "On their behalf, I would like to thank the European Union for the support it has given, is giving, and will continue to give."
At the dinner last night the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, reported on his recent visit to Timor and warned of the need both to encourage Indonesian reform promises and to make sure they were carried out. Leaders were also expected to have brief discussions on the development of the Union's security structures and to hear a short report on the treaty-changing Inter-Governmental Conference.
