ABSTRACT
The Western Balkans came to the attention of the European Union (EU) not only with the EU enlargement, but, because of the enlargement, the region became a direct neighbor to it. Formally, the Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) was established in June 1999 on the basis of a communication of the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. SAP not only functions in the area of promoting political and economic reforms, it also functions as a mechanism of pre-accession and integration. Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilization (CARDS) is the latest external aid instrument of the EU. In order to underline the EU's special relationship with the SAP countries, the EU decided in May 2002 to host regular political consultations, in particular through meetings on the ministerial level. Starting in 2007, the EU will grant financial means for its neighborhood policy through the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI).
