The selection of Local Democracy and Cross-border Cooperation/Euroregions as
a combined field of work is built upon the fact that a truly regional, economic
as well as social development, further democratization and stabilization of South-Eastern
Europe (SEE) are not possible without a strong commitment towards the local level,
in particular local authorities. At the same time sustainable solutions for SEE
countries can only be achieved through enhanced local ownership. This is particularly
true for the issue of cross-border cooperation, where the model of Euroregions
has shown enormous results within the EU and its border regions, as well as in
Central and Eastern Europe. The reason for their success is that they are not
imposed from above, but result from a bottom-up process, mostly initiated and
carried out by local governments and local social partners.
Local authorities
have always contributed a great deal to Europe's development and prosperity. Local
authorities are the focal points of people's living together and they influence
noticeably their quality of life. It is therefore also local and regional authorities
who make a considerable contribution in creating preconditions for European integration.
Long term processes leading to regional development, cross-border cooperation
or even interethnic reconciliation can only be filled with content on the level
where people face daily needs and challenges.
Cross-border cooperation
as a means for reconciliation and regional development, going back to the 50s
of the last century, proved to be an important tool for the integration process
in Europe after the 2nd world war. Following this experience, but also the experience
and positive results achieved through cross-border cooperation and Euroregions
on the external borders of the EU, especially towards the Central and East European
countries after 1989 and the fall of the iron curtain, one can recognize the importance
of supporting such local initiatives of cross-border cooperation.
Within
SEE there are some border regions, which already made first steps towards intensifying
cross-border cooperation, at the same time institutionalizing it through the establishment
of Euroregions. Examples are: FRY-Hungary-Romania; FRY-Bulgaria-FYROM; Bulgaria-Greece;
BiH-Croatia-Hungary, FRY.
This new dynamism needs to be supported by the
international community. A strong support for existing initiatives, as well as
the encouragement of such new initiatives is of vital interest for the further
democratisation, reconciliation and development process in SEE as well for the
process of integration into Europe. Also the fact remains that cross-border cooperation
can only be filled with real content where actors across borders face common needs
and interests and meet these with a readiness for joint strategic planning.
The
fifth meeting of the Working Table I in Skopje in December 2001 discussed the
Chairman's idea of contributing to the process of strengthening interethnic relations
through support to the development of democratic and civic structures at the local
government level and the decentralization process in general.
In the meantime
the Stability Pact has been in contact with institutions active in this field
of activity, consulting on possibilities of joining efforts and using synergies
with a view to elaborating a strategy to be carried out with the support of the
Stability Pact. During those consultations the following conclusions were drawn:
- decentralization of state administration and strengthening of local
government institutions remain preconditions for regional, economic as well as
social development;
- preparation for EU Accession is a major challenge
for the countries of the SEE region, which they must be prepared to face on the
national, regional and local level of state administration;
- the exchange
of best practices between cities and regions and their co-operative structures
should be seen as an important tool for enhancing the reform and development process;
- the establishment of Euroregions in SEE as well as local cross-border
cooperation initiatives are essential to reconciliation, regional development
and European integration process;
- reforms should be accompanied by regular
assessments of results achieved
In order to set concrete achievable
objectives it was decided to organize an informal consultation under the umbrella
of the Stability Pact. The idea hereby is to further elaborate on the above mentioned
issues, with the aim to develop a strategy and a program of activities. At the
same time possibilities for cooperation between ongoing and planned initiatives
as well as future funding perspectives will be discussed.
The consultations
that took place on 13 May 2002 in the Stability Pact Office in Brussels led further
to identification of the following main areas for priority action:
- enhancing stronger links between the Euroregions in SEE by building a
network of Euroregions in SEE in order to promote good practice in cross-border
cooperation between local and regional authorities in the border regions of SEE;
-
Development of Cooperation Programs between Euroregions from SEE and those from
the EU or the CEEC with the perspective of intensified transnational cooperation;
-
Assistance to local government activities aimed at institutionalizing cross-border
cooperation and the establishment of functional new Euroregions
- Targeted
Training Programs for practitioners from Euroregions, especially for the executive
management bodies;
- Development of a Database and distribution of
practical guides (handbooks) with all relevant information on the issue of Euroregions;
- Technical
advice to cross-border project development in partnership with the national level
and where possible the EU;
- Legal Advice and Assistance in order to
facilitate institutionalization of cross-border cooperation (including preparation
of bilateral or multilateral agreements in this field)
The sixth meeting
of the Working Table on Democratization and Human Rights in Istanbul in June 2002
agreed that Local Democracy and Cross-border Cooperation as key features of the
democratization and stabilization process in South Eastern Europe should be given
priority within the Stability Pact. A Steering Committee to coordinate efforts
in the field of local democracy and cross-border cooperation with the goal of
attaining a greater degree of coherence in this area of activity will be established
in October.
In the meantime, a small group of major implementing agencies
(Council of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, Association
of European Border Regions, Open Society Institute, East West Institute, Westminster
Foundation) under the guidance of the Stability Pact is continuing its work. One
of the first immediate steps to follow-up Istanbul is the mapping exercise of
ongoing activities and assistance programs carried out throughout the region by
national agencies, international organizations and foundations and NGOs (Donor
Info Sheet; Project
Info Sheet). The Working Table in Istanbul welcomed this initiative, as it
would help establish a clear picture where synergies could be developed and identify
gaps for which fresh actions are required. This work has been done by the Open
Society Institute through the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative.
The results can be found on the SP-LGI
joint website.
International
conference on "Cross-border Cooperation in South Eastern Europe: Obstacles
and Opportunities for Euroregional Cooperation" that took place in Osijek and
Bizovac in the Republic of Croatia on the 18-19 November 2002 was yet another
important step aimed at giving additional impetus and support to the process of
intensifying interest-driven co-operation in cross-border regions in SEE. The
conference was jointly organized by the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe,
Danube-Drava-Sava Euroregional Cooperation as a host, Council of Europe and the
East-West Institute.
It was the intention of the organizers to contribute
through the Conference and the process of Local Democracy and Cross-border Co-operation
to strengthening of the capacities of SEE Euroregional and cross-border practicioners
and decision makers to formulate their strategies and implement action plans,
at the same time improving their knowledge on handling of long term funding possibilities.
