I bestræbelserne for at konsolidere fred og stabilitet i regionen, bidrage til dens økonomiske genopbygning og frem for alt fremme de europæiske bestræbelser blev det besluttet, at EU gradvist udbygger sine forbindelser også med disse lande.
In an endeavour to consolidate peace and stability in the region, to contribute to its reconstruction and in particular to support its European aspirations, it was decided that the EU would progressively build up its relations with these countries too.