Regional Table

The discussions at the Regional Table focused on the issue of "regional ownership", assessing the state of play and looking at the challenges involved in enhancing regional ownership of Stability Pat activities.  All key donor governments, beneficiary countries and international organisations participated in the open and lively debate with ideas on how to further strengthen regional ownership and regional leadership in key areas of co-operation.  Several representatives called for a clear communication of the region's preferences, a comprehensive assessment of the existing initiatives and a concrete roadmap on how to prioritise among these in the future.  The Stability Pact will return to this discussion at the next Regional Table in Prague.

Working Table on Democratisation

Yesterday's working table I meeting was aimed at assessing regional ownership and youth related issues through panel discussions.  Each Task Force evaluated the extent to which SP initiatives have regionalized and made recommendations on how to enhance this process further.  There is awareness about the need to exchange experiences on regional ownership in order to better address similar problems through a common approach.  Governments will intensify their efforts and undertake concrete steps to strengthen their institutional capacities and further regional co-operation.  The meeting recognized the very positive example given by initiatives coming out of the region itself - such as the Gender Task Force or the Cetinje Parliamentary Forum - and by those which have been transferred to the region with the establishment of regional centres - such as the Education Reform Initiative (ERI SEE) or NALAS on local government.  The meeting called on the countries to take an even more active role, in particular with regard to the capacity building in parliaments in the region for both parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with regional structures such as the Cetinje Forum playing an important role, as well as regarding the implementation of the Zagreb Ministerial Declaration on Local Governance with a view to capacity building on the level of local authorities.  A particular focus of the meeting was devoted to the education reform process in SEE.

Working Table on Economic Reconstruction and Development

The Working Table II meeting focused on infrastructure development in SEE.  The meeting concluded that much had been accomplished but that a lot remains to be done.  The participants welcomed the development and implementation of comprehensive regional strategies in the different infrastructure sub-sectors under the auspices of the Infrastructure Steering Group.  This process is most advanced in the field of energy as evidenced by the forthcoming signing of the international treaty on the energy community and the meeting also welcomed the creation of regional institutional structures, such as the South East Europe Transport Observatory, which will oversee implementation.  However, the meeting also noted that infrastructure projects are large, complex and very costly - a key conclusion was that grant financing is still required for SEE.  Also, successful development will not be possible without further economic and legal reforms that provide the clarity, certainty and transparency necessary to secure investment, particularly from the private sector.

Working Table on Security Issues

Defence Conversion in SEE is a crucial dimension of much wider security sector transformation processes, and an important issue for all involved in reconstruction and socio-economic development in SEE.  Participants took note of the results of the SEECP MoD's meeting on 31 March in Bucharest.  They expressed their support to strengthen the role of RACVIAC as a regional centre for defence conversion, without diminishing RACVIAC's role regarding the other issues in its mandate.  They asked the RACVIAC member states and international partners to provide support towards bringing about such an enhanced role for RACVIAC as a regional defence conversion centre.  Participants also called for increased regional co-operation on destruction of redundant stockpiles of major conventional weapon systems, and stock of redundant or expired ammunition/explosives.  The South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) possesses relevant knowledge and expertise.  The participants noted that the ambitious agenda set by Serbia and Montenegro for the coming year for the MARRI Initiative raises expectations for increased regional co-operation.  The participants also noted the need to address the question of the future of the Ohrid Border Process.  The participants noted that a decision on the transfer of the DPPI Secretariat to a location in SEE was being prepared and that a new Executive Secretary would be recruited soon to work from this regional office.