Dayton 1995 - Sarajevo 2005. Stability and European Integration in the Balkans: the case of Bosnia t

The year 2006 will be crucial for the future of the Balkans and, by extension, for the stabilization and integration process in Europe. By the end of that year the Kosovo issue, the last remaining open question from the violent destruction of Yugoslavia, will most likely have been resolved. While Kosovo will draw most of the international attention, other Balkans issues must not be forgotten.

The coming year should see progress in Croatia’s ambition to join the EU, while its neighbours to the south, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro, will hopefully tackle their own specific problems of statehood successfully.

Ten years ago, in November 1995, the most gruesome conflict of the dissolution of Yugoslavia was brought to an end by the US-sponsored “Dayton Accords”. The military intervention of the international community in Bosnia and the subsequent post-conflict reconstruction of this war-torn country was the most comprehensive effort in peace building to date.

Ten years on, where does Bosnia stand today, is the region safer now, can it ever become part of “New Europe”, were the gigantic efforts of the International Community worth it, what are the lessons learned for Europe when confronting ethnic strife and political upheaval; finally, what does it mean for the “Peace Project Europe” and its ambitions to become a global player?

These are just some of the questions that come to mind on the eve of a decisive year for Europe in general and the Balkans in particular.