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The Stability Pact aims at strengthening countries in South
Eastern Europe in their efforts to foster peace, democracy, respect
for human rights, social development, economic prosperity and
a sustainable security environment, in order to achieve stability
in the whole region. It is committed to enhancing regional ownership
and co-operation. Under the auspices of the OSCE and with the
EU having the lead role, the Stability Pact has proven its value
as a comprehensive framework to promote the objectives laid down
in the Cologne Document and in the Sarajevo Declaration.
Since the creation of the Stability Pact, partners have engaged
in substantial discussions on scope, focus and priorities of its
activities. At the first Regional Table meeting in September 1999,
a preliminary workplan was agreed upon. It served as a basis for
preparing quick start projects for the first Regional Funding
Conference (29 & 30 March 2000). Subsequently, strategy and workplan
were further refined. Having reviewed a large number of initiatives,
the Regional Table, at its second meeting in June 2000, adopted
the "Agenda for Stability". This document identified selected
key areas of interest for all three Working Tables, giving direction
with regard to goals and timetables for implementation. Now that
the Stability Pact approaches the finalisation of the Quick Start
Package, and thus successfully completed the first stage of its
engagement, a thorough review of interests, objectives and profile
of Stability Pact activities appears to be necessary. In the light
of decisions taken at the Working Tables, this document attempts
to outline the strategic frame for future work, pinpoints priorities
as elaborated by the Working Tables, and draws operational conclusions
for the coming period.
I Strategic Framework
South-eastern Europe has, over the last months, witnessed fundamental
political changes in Croatia, the FRY, and Bosnia and Herzegovina,
that created an innovative environment for co-operative policies
in the region. Most importantly, democratic changes in Serbia paved
the way for the full inclusion of the FRY in the Stability Pact,
opening up the opportunity for designing true regional strategies
in key sectors. For the first time in a decade, all governments
in south-eastern Europe are committed to Euro-Atlantic integration,
market economy and regional co-operation, as well as to peaceful
settlement of disputes. However, serious security challenges that
require enhanced conflict prevention measures still prevail.
European Perspective
The principal strategic objective of the Stability Pact remains
the fullest possible integration of the countries in the region
into the European political and economic mainstream. The Stabilisation
and Association Process (SAP) and the accession process for candidate
countries which also participate in the Stability Pact - the European
Union’s main contributions in support of stabilisation efforts
in the region - have shown considerable progress. Stabilisation
and Association agreements were signed with the FYR of Macedonia
and initialled with Croatia. The Stability Pact is committed to
coherence as well as mutual and complementary support to both
the SAP and the accession process. It will continue to assist
countries in the region to make full use of the opportunities
and instruments provided to accelerate their rapprochement with
the EU. Best practice from the EU accession process’ experience
needs to be made full use of. On the other hand, the EU remains
fully committed to exercising its leading role in support of the
Stability Pact, in line with the conclusions of the Zagreb summit.
Enhanced Conflict Prevention
The Stability Pact community still faces serious challenges
in south-eastern Europe. While there is considerable progress
with regard to reaching a peaceful solution to the crisis in Southern
Serbia, continued terrorist actions by ethnic Albanian extremists
in the FYR of Macedonia pose extremely serious threats to peace
and security in the region. They are strongly condemned by the
whole international community. Regional dialogue processes will
be essential to resolve complex issues which are still obstacles
to stability in the region. These processes should take place
upon initiative of the actors from the region and make use of
existing structures. The Stability Pact must work towards establishing
a conflict prevention culture that includes the respect for the
principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and
good neighbourliness, in the form of long-term measures, that
should be integrated in all its actions.
Regional Co-operation
Regional co-operation serves as a catalyst to the aspirations
of the countries in the region to integrate themselves into European
structures. Capacity building for local ownership and responsibility,
in order to achieve democratic consolidation and economic progress,
is a precondition for enhanced regional co-operation to which
the Stability Pact is particularly committed. Regional co-operation
should take fully into account the diversity of countries involved
and should by no means be perceived as an alternative but rather
as a catalyst to European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Emphasising
local ownership of the process, the Stability Pact has developed
a productive working relationship with the Southeast European
Co-operation Process, which includes inter alia collaborating
in implementing a regional economic action plan. Recent achievements
also include the "Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Liberalisation
and Facilitation" and the "Agenda for Regional Action" on refugee
issues. Further opportunities should be seized with regard to
developing a regional approach to issues such as liberalising
visa regimes, managing borders and improving the region’s energy
infrastructure.
II Working Table Priorities
Against this background, the Special Co-ordinator, in close consultation
with Stability Pact partners, recommends streamlining the activities
of Working Table I, II and III by focusing on priority sectors for
action in the coming phase. This includes developing strategic approaches,
and setting concrete goals against fixed deadlines, allowing effective
monitoring and measurement of progress. Besides regional ownership
and responsibility, enhanced co-ordination of international efforts
in the region, involving the EU, the OSCE, the Council of Europe,
the UN, NATO, the OECD, the IFIs and the regional initiatives, will
be of particular benefit to this effort. Creating synergy, while
avoiding duplication, should guide all efforts in this respect.
Important cross-cutting issues that are not particularly mentioned,
such as the concepts of good governance, human security, social
justice and gender equality, should be mainstreamed in ongoing initiatives.
Parliamentary co-operation, sponsored by the European Parliament
and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the CoE and the OSCE, should
be further strengthened to support Stability Pact activities in
all three Working Tables.
Working Table I
Refugee Issues
The inclusion of the FRY in the Stability Pact created the
opportunity for a true regional strategy for return and/or local
integration. The "Agenda for Regional Action" provides a multilateral
framework for effectively addressing the refugee issue. It sets
clear-cut annual goals and a timetable in order to find lasting
solutions for more than 1,3 million refugees and IDPs in the
region. The Initiative for Social Cohesion is instrumental in
achieving progress in this area.
Media
Recognising the fundamental importance of improved communication
and a free media as a precondition for democratic consolidation,
it is of utmost importance to ensure adherence to the highest
international standards of freedom of expression and media ethics.
The Stability Pact "Charter for Media Freedom" and subsequent
documents (such as the Media Task Force Action Plan and National
Work Plans) should guide further action.
Interethnic Relations and Cross-border Co-operation
Against the background of conflicts motivated by ethnic extremism
or by other causes, the promotion of human rights and minority
rights, as well as the rehabilitation of multiethnic and multicultural
societies is instrumental in fostering sustainable peace and
stability. In the context of ethnically mixed border areas,
trans-frontier co-operation at local level contributes to enhancing
good-neighbourly relations and conflict prevention.
Education and Youth
Youth and educational work is a key element for both human
capital formation and the promotion of peace and democratic
values. The "Strategy 2001" by the Task Force Education and
Youth serves as a basis for developing national working priorities
and enhanced regional co-operation in the field of education.
Working Table II
Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation
Trade liberalisation is of utmost importance for economic development,
co-operation and integration. The "Memorandum of Understanding
on Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation" by trade ministers
of the region sets a clear road map for the next two years.
It aims at creating a network of free trade agreements between
all the countries in the region consistent with the stabilisation
and association and the accession processes. The Stability Pact
Trade Working Group will monitor its implementation and co-ordinate
and promote related projects.
Fostering Private Investment
Sustainable economic growth through increased private investment
remains key to future stabilisation. SEE countries have set
out a range of policy reform commitments under the Investment
Compact. The implementation of these reforms needs to move forward.
Additionally, initiatives to assist domestic and foreign investors
such as programs led by the EBRD should be expanded. Efforts
to reach out to the private sector need to be pursued as well.
Regional Infrastructure and Environment
Regional strategies for key infrastructure sectors, including
energy, transport and water, are being developed. These strategies
will serve as guidance for the development of regional networks.
The paper "Development of Regional Infrastructure Projects -
the way ahead", endorsed at the last meeting of Working Table
II, sets out a clear process to promote regional priority projects.
Working Table III
The Working Table will increasingly direct its attention to
the area of Security Sector Reform, inter alia as a contribution
to the follow-up to the South East Europe Initiative’s Common
Assessment Paper on Regional Security Challenges (SEECAP). An
ad hoc working group will consider the exact nature of engagement
in this area. SEEGROUP, another regionally owned initiative
supported by NATO and the SP, might be involved in this work.
Sub-table on Defence and Security Affairs
Arms Control and Security Sector Reform
Restructuring the militaries of south-eastern Europe to adapt
to the new security and political environment, including transparency
and confidence building, is a priority challenge. This includes
the implementation of an agreement on confidence building
and arms control under Annex 1B of the Dayton/Paris Peace
Accord, Article V, as foreseen in the Declaration of the November
2000 OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna, inter alia through
the Stability Pact initiated RACVIAC centre. Further issues
such as retraining of redundant military personnel, as well
as base closure or conversion and safe and responsible destruction
of excessive weapons and ammunition stockpiles are on the
agenda.
Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons (SALWs)
Anti-personnel land mines represent a serious obstacle to
economic progress and refugee return. Therefore, humanitarian
demining, stockpile destruction, regional training programs,
and co-ordination of testing and evaluation capabilities will
be areas of activity. In order to fight the illicit proliferation
of SALWs, issues such as needs assessments, destruction of
stockpiles and trafficking need to be addressed in accordance
with the OSCE Document on SALWs and the decisions of the forthcoming
UN conference on the issue.
Disaster Preparedness and Prevention
A key area for regional co-operation is determining disaster
risks and improving preparedness and prevention capabilities.
The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative’s (DPPI)
Regional Report and follow-on discussions will provide a basis
for further ctivities, in co-ordination with initiatives undertaken
in the field of JHA.
Sub-table on Justice and Home Affairs
Fight against Corruption and Organised Crime
Organised crime and corruption have a destructive effect,
undermining human security, respect for the rule of law, as
well as trust in investment and reforms. Intensified efforts
by the countries of the region are to be undertaken within
the framework of the Anti Corruption Initiative (SPAI) and
the Stability Pact Fight against Organised Crime Initiative
(SPOC).
Migration and Asylum
Migration and asylum questions, including trafficking of
human beings, are of growing concern to the whole of the Stability
Pact community. The Migration and Asylum Initiative has established
Country Teams providing partnerships between SAP countries,
individual EU Member States, EU candidate countries and other
Stability Pact participants. The aim is to facilitate legislative
reform and capacity building as a primary mechanism for European
integration. The Task Force against Trafficking in Human Beings
has developed a three-year action plan.
Law Enforcement/Institution Building
In the wider context of internal security sector reform,
the Stability Pact will focus on police training and networking.
Two initial Stability Pact regional police training courses
will be held in the second half of 2001. With regard to border
management a regional action plan will be developed in conjunction
with the Budapest Group.
III Towards the Regional Conference
The Zagreb summit declared the aim "to hold a second Regional Funding
Conference". In this vein, the "Report of the Special Co-ordinator
on the Implementation of the Quick Start Package" of May 2001 demonstrates
that the overall performance of the Stability Pact in key priority
sectors is showing encouraging results. As of May 2001, more than
80 % of quick start projects had started. The QSP has thus enabled
the principles of the Stability Pact to take root. It contributed
to accelerating internal reforms that are aimed at drawing the countries
of the region closer to the EU, and to improving regional co-operation.
Therefore, conditions for a second Regional Conference on assistance
and reforms have been met. It should enable the Pact to move on
to the next stage in its development.
The Regional Conference will be held on 25-26 October 2001 in
Bucharest, based upon the non-paper that SCSP presented to the
Working Level Steering Group on 30 April 2001 in Washington and
that will be further developed. The Regional Conference has two
aims: to give a strong signal of the SEE countries’ determination
to further engage in true reforms and regional co-operation, as
well as the international community’s continued political and
financial support to the region. It will also aim at a stronger
involvement of the private sector in the economic renewal of the
region.
The Regional Conference will be jointly organised by the World
Bank and the European Commission with SCSP. The opening session
will feature the International Community’s overall commitment
to the region, including bilateral assistance. Subsequently, the
agenda will be structured around three sessions covering private
sector development, infrastructure development, regional co-operation
and reforms.
In priority sectors, policies and strategies have been elaborated
or will be finalised by the time of the Regional Conference. These
sector strategies should, in the future, form the basis for promoting
projects, based on close consultations between recipients and
donors, via existing Stability Pact Working Groups or Task Forces.
The Regional Conference will promote only projects consistent
with strategies for which funding has been secured or is being
finalised. In preparation of the Regional Conference the Special
Co-ordinator will seek continued support from the donor community
for strategically important activities. He will work toward strengthening
regional ownership and improved delivery on commitments on all
sides.
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