Regional Meeting of the Stability Pact Initiative for Social Cohesion

The Regional meeting for the Social Cohesion Initiative (ISC) hosted by the French Ministry for Solidarity and Employment and chaired by Mr. Villey (France) and Ms. Bacovic (FRY) was held according to schedule. Attendance was significant - over forty participants - and active engagement of European Commission.

The Special Co-ordinator (SP) in his opening remarks, pointed out the linkage between the economic reforms and the modernisation of the social sector, as well as the Initiative's complementarily role in the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. The SP reiterated the need of focusing on achievable projects.

The SEE countries reiterated the urgency of addressing the reform of the social sector, particularly on the area of health, pension, social services, unemployment and pointed out that national governments are becoming increasingly concerned to the slow pace of the social sector modernisation process.

The team leaders of the various areas CoE, CEB, ETUC, ILO, IOE, WHO , provided an implementation/finance status report on their proposed projects. All the area selected within the Initiative received funds to launch the first phase. In several cases the possibility to merge projects, presenting similar features was envisaged.

Europe-Aid Co-operation Office In the context of continued support provided by the Commission to the Western Balkans, Europe Aid presented its interest to improve collaboration with the Initiative and highlighted the increased attention that CARDS Committee pays to the reform of the social sector. Within the CARDS programme various areas of potential co-operation were identified: - Economic and Social Development - Institution and Capacity Building - Infrastructure. In the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the European Commission priority, it is important to reinforce national level, which will in turn strengthen regional co-operation. A meeting between the chairmanship of the Initiative for Social Cohesion and EC officials is planned for the near future. The meeting will focus on the identification of methods of co-operation between some of the Commission services and the Initiative.

DG Employment and Social Affairs underlined the importance of further develop the social policy sector, as some of the area addressed within the Initiative, such as employment, pension reform and social dialogue are clearly part of the aquis communautaire. This Commission service expressed readiness to exchange information and expertise.

Other International Organisations present at the meeting, FAO and UNDP referred to the importance of intervening in the field of Vocational Training and in the agricultural sector. UNDP particularly advocated the importance of raising the profile of the Social Initiative in the context of Poverty Reduction Programmes and suggested increasing the fund raising role of the Stability Pact.

The main donor countries of the Initiative, France, Greece, Italy, and Switzerland , confirming their pledges, will allow some of the projects to begin. Other donors, particularly Switzerland, are considering offering some additional support to ensure that all the SEE countries experts be represented at selected meetings.

ACHIEVEMENTS and ACHIEVABLES by SECTORS

Health Policy

· Upon approval of the project by its Administrative Council, (end of January) the Council of Europe Development Bank will provide a 2.8 M EURO loan for the Renovation and Modernisation of the Andrija Stampar school of Public Health in Zagreb, and of the International Centre for Health Service Management in Dubrovnik with regional benefits
· Funds are available to begin to strengthen Food Safety and Nutrition Services
· On 1-3 February Greece will host a meeting with BiH, (project lead country) Germany, Sweden, WHO EURO, and CoE to finalise a project on Mental Health, and launch immediate implementation
· On 6-8 February in Lyon, SEE counterparts, WHO and the French Ministry for Health will discuss the work-plan and launch the implementation of step one of the project related to Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases
· On 15-18 April WHO EURO and CoE will organise the fourth meeting of the SEE Health Network
· On 7-8 June 02, Greece will host a Ministerial meeting to discuss the establishment of an Observatory to monitor related activities in the Region

Social Protection

· Slovenia accepted to participate in the work of pension reform. An ad hoc experts group representing the Region, in close collaboration with ILO, DG Employment and Social Affairs and the Council of Europe (CoE) will work to harmonise pension legislation according to EU and international standards
· A sub-group is envisaged to work on an ad hoc Agreement amongst FRY, Croatia and BiH on information exchange for pension entitlements of most vulnerable people specially refugees. FRY, BiH and Croatia representatives agreed to speed up the signing of such Agreement. Cross table issue -

Social Dialogue

· With financing of France, Italy and Switzerland a project to strengthen the role of Social Partners and Ministers for Labour in the field of industrial relations - Trade Unions - Employers Organisations - Government Institutions - will begin in April 2002. Austria and Germany showed interest in the project.

Housing Policy

· CEB and COE along with the UN specialised Agency HABITAT is taking significant steps to create a financial and legislative framework to enhance a housing market. A meeting of the SEE countries representatives is scheduled for 25 - 26 February in Belgrade. A ministerial meeting is planned for November 2002.

Vocational Training and Labour Market Policy

· Some new ideas regarding merging of existing projects emerged during the discussions; France and Italy will provide initial funds to implement projects in this crucial field.
· The concept of involving the private sector in the reform of the social sector, as other Eastern European countries have experienced, was discussed.

MONITORING REPORT

A preliminary draft report was circulated. Comments and or amendments to the existing draft should be provided by the end of February 2002.
In line with the agreement reached at the last Regional meeting of the ISC held in Belgrade, October 2001, it was asked to the representatives of the SEE countries and the team leaders of each sector to solicit the responsible ministers to provide a brief overview of the five sectors. No timeline was defined but, to have a platform to start monitoring policy reform progress, these documents should be sent shortly.

CONCLUSIONS:

Next Regional Meeting of the ISC was tentatively scheduled for the second half of May 2002. Greece will host it.