Parliamentary Cooperation

Working Meeting on the Parliamentary Dimension of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe

A working meeting on the Parliamentary Dimension of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was held in Brussels on 16 December. The purpose of the meeting was to give the Royaumont Process (Process for Stability and Good Neighbourliness in South Eastern Europe) the opportunity to collect comments and suggestions in order for it to be able to formulate a comprehensive action plan on parliamentary cooperation. The agenda for the meeting is annexed, annex 1.

Dr. Panagiotis Roumeliotis, EU Special Representative for the Royaumont Process, chaired the meeting. In his opening remarks Dr. Roumeliotis referred to the Action Plan for "Promoting Parliamentary Cooperation" proposed by the International Institute for Democracy. The Special Representative found it of great importance that the Royaumont Process was involved in, the parliamentary dimension of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe. In this dimension, the European Parliament ought to have an important role. The Action Plan, when completed, would be costly. Funding would hopefully come from the EU Commission and from EU Member States. The working meeting aimed to obtain concrete and realistic proposals for interparlimentary cooperation. (Dr. Roumeliotis´ introductory remarks are annexed, annex 2).

The (EU) Commission representative expressed support for the Parliamentary Dimension of the Stability Pact and referred to the already known financial commitment by the Commission. The Representative of the IID (International Institute for Democracy), Mrs. Enie Wesseldijk, described the background to its proposal and the contents thereof. The proposal is annexed, annex 3.

With the floor opened by the chair, Croatia spoke first. The statement by the Croatian delegation was made available in written form and is annexed, annex 4. The Representative of the Czech Republic, currently chair of the CEI (Central European Initiative) proposed a conference of (parliamentary) ombudsmen in 2000. The proposed Plan of Action was highly appreciated and the Czech Republic looked forward to contribute to it.

The Representative from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly promised further cooperation and expressed support for the principles of the proposed Action Plan. The Assembly also supported the Croatian proposal, first suggested at the Follow-up meeting to the Royaumont Process in Bled, Slovenia on 3 December 1999, regarding a meeting of Parliamentary speakers (Presidents) in Zagreb in April or May 2000.

The Romanian delegation considered the Royaumont Process to be an important mechanism within the Stability Pact. However, the Romanian delegation considered that the Stability Pact needed coherent implementation, still lacking today. Furthermore, a certain bureaucratisation of the Pact, and the Royaumont Process, could be noted. Tangible results had to be shown soon in order to maintain public and parliamentarian support. Lastly, it had to be remembered that the Stability Pact constituted an important element for integration into the European Union. The Romanian Parliament supported the Parliamentary Dimension, which also served as a democratic control mechanism. Consequently the main ideas in the Action Plan proposed by IID were supported with the hope that it would contribute to increased parliamentary cooperation.

Proposals from the Romanian Parliament were that Romania would host meetings of the chairmen of the national parliamentary committees for Foreign Affairs and Defence. The first of these meetings could take place in February 2000. Furthermore, Romania suggested to hold a meeting between Parliamentary chairmen of the Committees for "Human Rights and Minorities" and, finally, that an annual conference of parliamentary Presidents be held to evaluate progress of the parliamentary dimension within the Stability Pact.

The delegation from Montenegro found the Action Plan proposal to be highly appreciative and asked for Montenegro to be included already in the pilot phase! Speaking on a personal basis, the Chair of the meeting found this proposal to be worthy of support.

The East-West Institute, a Prague based NGO, applauded the proposed Action Plan and suggested an MP Network for South Eastern Europe. The proposal is annexed, annex 4.

The Representative for the Stability Pact deemed it necessary to draw up a coherent Action Plan. This should be done before the Working Table 1 meeting in Hungary (on 24 January). A funding conference would then take place in March.

The Bulgarian delegation saw the need for the parliamentary dimension to be visible. The dimension was a necessary element of the Stability Pact. No new bodies should be created for its implementation. Greater transparency was needed. The European Parliament should organise working meetings among the chairs of the national parliamentary committees on Foreign Affairs.

Albania considered that the Royaumont Process should give added value to the Stability Pact. Some disappointment (disillusion) with the Stability Pact could be detected among the rank and file. Public relations efforts were needed. Many perceived the Stability Pact, wrongly, as a Marshall Plan for South-East Europe.

In his concluding remarks Dr. Roumeliotis commended the concrete proposals for the parliamentary dimension of the Stability Pact which had been voiced during the meeting. The proposals, which had been presented orally, should best be submitted in writing, at the latest on 15 January 2000. Also proposals not presented during the working meeting were welcome, at the latest on the date mentioned. A comprehensive document with proposals would then be prepared for the Stability Pact Working Table 1 (Budapest 24 January). Both the Action Plan proposal and the specific proposals would consequently be ready for approval by the Table on 24 January.