Strengthened regional co-operation in the fields of trade liberalisation, the fight against organised crime, energy, refugee return and displaced persons, and media development were on the agenda when four senior international representatives in South Eastern Europe (SEE) met in Salzburg on 3 August.

The informal meeting took place upon invitation of Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, Erhard Busek and was attended by High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, Special Representative of the European Union in Skopje, Alain Le Roy and UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kosovo, Michael Steiner.

The positive momentum created by the Sarajevo summit on 15 July by the Presidents of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Yugoslavia and the successful meeting of the Austrian and SEE Heads of Governments in Salzburg on 29-30 July is proof for a continuing dialogue amongst Governments and a solid basis for further concrete progress in regional co-operation on practical issues of direct concern to the citizens of South Eastern Europe, especially in view of improving the standard of living.

In their talks, the four took stock of the latest achievements in SEE and particularly commended the Governments of SEECP countries for their markedly improved regional co-operation, both on governmental and on working level. The four agreed to continue their efforts, together with governments in the region, to facilitate regional co-operation – the main objective of the Stability Pact – as it is the only way to solve many of the remaining problems in the region.

Establishing the rule of law and improving the standard of living in SEE is key to further stabilising the region. In order to do so, participants identified a need to further increase regional and sub-regional co-operation in the following domains: trade liberalisation (free trade, reducing non tariff obstacles etc.), fighting organized crime (particularly border management and efforts to counter smuggling), energy (particularly electricity), housing support for refugees and displaced persons, fostering education opportunities, and increasing efforts to bring the framework provisions for media up to internationally accepted standards.

Such co-operation, the participants underlined, must be implemented in close co-operation among SEE governments. Regional ownership is a precondition for making such measures effective.

The four officials stressed the need for free, fair and quality elections and election campaigns during the upcoming "election autumn" in SEE. The way elections are run and campaigns are conducted is very important for political stability in SEE. It is also a vital element for attracting much needed foreign investment. To that end, they called upon governments, politicians and political parties alike to respect the democratic rules of conduct in the upcoming elections.

In general, the participants stressed that their activities are part of the effort to promote the realisation of a European perspective, in particular the Stabilisation and Association Process. The aim is to bring SEE into Euro and Euro-Atlantic structures by means of internal reforms and regional co-operation.