BIARRITZ, France — European Union leaders on Saturday threw their full weight behind the new president of Yugoslavia, promising $175 million in badly needed aid without attaching conditions.
Vojislav Kostunica lunched with the 15 EU leaders at their summit headquarters and promised fresh European money would be distributed fairly to those who need it most.
It was Kostunica's first international visit since defeating Slobodan Milosevic in the Yugoslav elections, and EU leaders lost no time backing the new man in charge.
"We want to extend the hand of partnership and friendship to the new Serbian president and people," said British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"We will continue to support him," said French President Jacques Chirac, who hosted the lunch at the plush seaside casino where the summit is taking place. "We want this renewal to be a success. We are not here to start laying down conditions."
Kostunica had expected nothing less at this stage.
"I expect support from Europe for the democratic changes in Serbia and for its return to where it has always belonged — Europe," the new president told reporters en route to Biarritz.
Kostunica promised the aid package would be used to ease the most pressing needs. Yugoslavia's economy is in a deep slump following last year's NATO bombing campaign and economic sanctions aimed at weakening Milosevic's regime.
Asked how he would use the money, Kostunica replied:
"In the same way that Europe has shown its solidarity with us, we will show solidarity with our most endangered citizens."
EU leaders were not expected to press Kostunica on his reluctance to bring Serb suspects — including Milosevic — to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
"He needs the room and time to stabilize his government," said Jozias Van Aartsen, the Dutch foreign minister.
But some, including Britain, said such issues would eventually have to be dealt with.
The 15-nation EU is eager to take the leading role in the reconstruction effort and eager to latch on to the positive spirit of reform.
"The fall of Milosevic was one of the best things that happened to the Balkans and to Europe for a very long time," Blair said.
Crises in the Balkans and the Middle East have overshadowed the original agenda of the summit which was to focus on EU institutional reforms. Leaders tried on their last day of talks to work on breaking the deadlock between national positions on vital EU reforms that have to be agreed to by the time leaders meet again in December.
The EU prime ministers and presidents began the day of their two-day summit, however, by agreeing on a charter of fundamental rights for European citizens. It is aimed at moving the EU from a mere economic union to a real political union, but it remained unlikely whether it would become a legally binding document.
Issues over limiting national vetoes, reshaping the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, and on diluting more powers to the EU executive did not reach a conclusion as the summit drew to a close.
A final deal is to result in a new EU treaty at a Dec. 7-8 European summit in Nice, France.
"It is way too early to predict what will happen," said Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok.