Local Democracy

Task Force on Local Democracy and Cross-border Cooperation/Euroregions

Background

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:

A. Furthering Decentralization and Strengthening Local Governments

• Transfer of know-how and exchange of expertise in key areas of local self-government between partners from EU, Central and Eastern Europe and the candidate countries from the region;
  
• Targeted Training Programs and assistance in key areas for local authorities in order to meet new challenges, with a long term perspective of European Integration, especially having in mind the SAP and the obligations and standards to be met during a pre-accession process to the EU. At the same time the aim will be to strengthen the capacity of Local Governments and their Associations in terms of articulating their needs and policies vis à vis their national governments and the international community;
  
• Capacity Building for national associations of local authorities;
  
• Strengthening of the Network of National Associations of Local Governments in SEE;
  
• Improvement of Information and Communication Technologies on local government level and creation of a database for exchange of experience in key areas, at the same time including important information on new public management methods for local authorities
• Elaboration of a distance learning program for LGs in SEE
  
• Further assistance in legislative reforms and their implementation on national and local government level
  

B. Cross-Border Cooperation and the Establishment of Euroregions

• 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.