Conclusions Conclusions 

of the Meeting of Senior Officials from of the Meeting of Senior Officials from

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and UNMIK Montenegro and UNMIK

on the Cross Border Cooperation within the Stabilisation and Association on the Cross Border Cooperation within the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP)Process (SAP)

-current status and needs-current status and needs--

May 20-21, 2004May 20-21, 2004

Belgrade, Serbia and MontenegroBelgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

7th REReP Task Force meeting

September 30 – October 1, 2004

Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro

Agenda item 6

AIM OF THE MEETING

To discuss current status and needs in the cross border cooperation in South Eastern Europe

BASIS FOR MEETING • Joint Statement of the Skopje Ministerial

Meeting of October 15, 2003, identified cross-border cooperation as priority areas

• 6th REReP TF 2003 -need for regular review process of the achievements and problems in the SEE cross border cooperation was recognized

• Recommendations made in the Review of the REReP initiated by the EC, issued in January 2004

BASIS FOR FURTHER WORK

• EU integration process –the major political goal and driving force of all countries of the region

• Third Annual Report of the EC on the Stabilization and Association Process for SEE, accompanied by Commission’s proposal for European Partnerships

• Planned European Neighborhood Instrument will further assist the process of implementation

MEETING WAS OPPORTUNITY TO:

• Exchange information, views and experience on the current status and needs in the SEE cross border cooperation

• Present current and planned cross border activities in the region, using variety of instruments, models and approaches for joint work

• Define priorities for cross-border cooperation

IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES• Address common activities in the European

Partnerships and the Action Plans for their implementation; exchange of information on the transposition and implementation status of EU Directives. Capacity building for improving the negotiation skills

• Training for preparation and implementation of heavy investment projects; transfer of lessons learned from the new EU member states and candidate countries, more specifically the preaccession funds

• Capacity building in nature conservation activities and management of the protected areas, e.g. establishment of visitors centers, promotional materials for the general public

IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES• Assistance in environmental law drafting related to the EU

approximation

• Assistance in environmental law enforcement and compliance

• Address the implications of the decentralization process. Enhance the capacity building on local level, development and promotion of LEAPs and Local Agenda 21. Promotion of the cooperation among the municipalities as a tool for local communities support

• Further strengthen the cooperation with EEA within the framework of EIONET; facilitate the process of direct exchange of environmental data among the SEE countries

IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES

• Development of PRTRs systems, modeling them after the available positive experience in the region, e.g. Croatian Water Information System

• Revision and improvement of the existing flood control systems, early warning systems for flood prevention and control as well as accidental pollution, development of tools for information sharing, e.g. Danube river basin

• Exchange of experience and capacity building in implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, e.g. conventions, protocols, through cross-border cooperation

• Asassistance to companies introducing the EMAS and ISO 14000 standards

STEPS TO BE UNDERTAKEN in order to further develop the cross border cooperation

• Make more human and financial resources available to increase the capacity of the relevant institutions

• Identify joint environmental priorities of the countries• Improve the management structures for project

implementation• Train the staff of all relevant institutions on central and

local level. • Improve the information and expertise exchange among

relevant institutions in a coordinated manner• Encourage and support local initiative for cross border

cooperation through increased financial assistance

LESSONS LEARNT

• Environment is a particularly suitable platform for cross border cooperation

• Cross border projects should be focused on resolving concrete problems, they should be rather process than resource oriented, with clear agreement on rules and procedures to be adopted

• Good will to cooperate, local ownership and commitment are vital preconditions for success Trust building measures have to be implemented

• Good level of communication among project partners and stakeholders should be kept to raise awareness about cross border cooperation

WHAT CAN HELP ? • Recognition to the European Commission, donor countries within

and outside Europe, international organisations and institutions for the support and assistance was expressed

• Call for mobilisation of additional resources for assisting the successful implementation of the cross border activities was made

• The EU Neighbourhood Policy and Instrument, the ODA funds of the new EU member states were recognised as a creative tool for additional opportunities for technical assistance and support

• Infrastructure Steering Committee has to urgently respond to the environmental needs of the region and incorporate environmental aspects in the existing transport and energy projects and programmes

On behalf of all country representatives gratitude was expressed to

• Serbia and Montenegro as a host country • Government of Norway for the financial support

of the meeting and • Regional Environmental Centre for Central and

Eastern Europe for organising this meeting

Few countries expressed need for additional meeting

Meeting of SEE Senior officials for cross border project preparation

• Held on 28-29 September, back to back with 7th REReP Task Force meeting

• Countries/administrations represented: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and UNMIK

• New developments in environmental cross-border cooperation were presented, special emphasise on EU New Neighbourhood Policy and instruments –

• Case study -Development of Joint Project Document between R.Bulgaria and FYR of Macedonia in the frame of NNI was presented

Meeting of SEE Senior officials for cross border project preparation

• Specific project ideas were presented by the representatives

• Criteria for selection and categorisation of presented project ideas were defined

• Project ides were discussed one-by-one• Common/similar project ideas were determined • Negotiations and agreement for their merging was

achieved • According to defined criteria, presented project ideas

were selected and divided into categories/sections

Project Ideas for Cross-Border cooperationCriteria for Selection: • Projects are supported by central/local

authorities cooperating around common borders to solve priority environmental problems of common interests

• All sides of the respective borders participate in the project on equal footing

• Projects are in line with national policies, priorities and interests of the countries/stakeholders involved;

• NGOs and the general public will be consulted and involved in project implementation

PROJECT IDEAS FOR CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION

Sectors identified:

I. Water Management

II. Information Systems and Data Sharing

III. Capacity Building, Cooperation and Partnerships in the cross -border Context

IV. Nature Protection (including Biodiversity )

I WATER MANAGEMENT

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories

involved

Preliminary Budget

€

Duration Cross-border?

Originator

I Water Management

1. Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the Agreement between R of Macedonia and Albania for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Lake Ohrid and its Watershed

FYR of Macedonia , Albania

TBD 24 months

FYR of Macedonia

2. Development and Implementation of Bojana/Buna River Basin Management Plan

Montenegro, Albania

TBD 24 months

Montenegro

3.Technical assistance for the development of sustainable transport on and around Skadar/Shkodra Lake

Montenegro, Albania

TBD 12 months

Montenegro

4.Development and Implementation of the Drina River Basin Management Plan

Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

TBD 24 months

Serbia

5. Development and Implementation of the Struma/Strumica River Basin Management Plan

Bulgaria, FYR of Macedonia

TBD 18 months

Bulgaria

II INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DATA SHARINGIII CAPACITY BUILDING AND PARTNERSHIP

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories

involved

Preliminary Budget

€

Duration Cross-border?

Originator

II Information Systems and Data Sharing 1. Establishment of Network of Environmental Information and Early Warning and Response Systems in selected border municipalities/regions (TBD)

Bulgaria, FYR of Macedonia , SCG, (Romania), Albania, Kosovo (UNMIK), Croatia. BiH

TBD 24 months

Bulgaria

2. Development of GIS for Skadar Lake S&CG- Montenegro and Albania

TBD 24 months

Montenegro

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories

involved

Preliminary Budget

€

Duration Cross-border?

Originator

III Capacity Building, Cooperation and Partnerships in the cross -border Context 1. Harmonising the implementation of Espoo Convention in Croatia, B&H and SCG

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia & Montenegro

TBD 6 months Croatia

2. Protecting international lake areas (Shkodra/Prespa/Ohrid) through Integrated Land Use Planning and Economic Instruments

Albania, FYR of Macedonia , Montenegro, Greece

TBD

24 months

Albania

IV NATURE PROTECTION (INCLUDINC BIODIVERSITY)

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories

involved

Preliminary Budget

€

Duration Cross-border?

Originator

IV Nature Protection (incl. Biod) 1. Preparatory work for proclaiming the transboundary biosphere reserve "Drina"

Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina

TBD 24 months

Serbia

2. Establishment of the first Balkan International Peace Park

Albania, SCG, Kosovo (UNMIK)

TBD 24 months

UNMIK

3. Establishing a Joint Forum for the Protection of the Dinarides' Biodiversity

Montenegro, BiH Croatia

TBD 12 months

Montenegro

4. Assessing opportunities for the proclamation of Jablanica as a protected area

Albania, FYR of Macedonia

TBD 24 months

FYR of Macedonia

5. Assessing opportunities for the proclamation of Belasica as a protected area

FYR of Macedonia , Bulgaria

TBD 24 months

Bulgaria

Project Ideas for Regional Cooperation

Criteria for Selection: • Projects offer opportunity for exchange of

common experiences, based on EU integration, harmonization process

• Projects are in line with national policies, priorities and interests of the countries/stakeholders involved;

• NGOs and the general public will be consulted and involved in project implementation

PROJECT IDEAS FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION

Following sectors identified:

I. Information Systems and Data Sharing

II. Capacity Building, Cooperation and Partnerships in the cross -border Context

III. Nature Protection (including Biodiversity)

I INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND DATA SHARING

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories involved

Budget €

Duration Originator

1.Further Development of a REReP Sub-Programme for Cross-border cooperation in SEE

All SEE countries TBD 12 months FYR of Macedonia

I Information Systems and Data Sharing 2. Development of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers in SEE

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (UNMIK), Bulgaria

TBD 24 months Croatia

3. Strengthening capacities in environmental monitoring, reporting and EIONET network beyond the Second Phase (2004-2006)

Albania, B&H, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro

TBD

36 months Albania

II CAPACITY BUILDING, COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIPS IN THE CROSS -BORDER CONTEXT

III NATURE PROTECTION Project Title Countries &

Admin. Territories involved

Budget Duration

Originator

II Capacity Building, Cooperation and Partnerships 1. Networking between the departments for EU integration and legislation and regular consultations and exchanges with DG Environment and other relevant EC structures

Albania, FYR of Macedonia , Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo (UNMIK)

TBD

48 months Albania

2. Promoting Principles of Local Agenda 21 and Developing REAPs (and LEAPs) following a cross-border approach;

Albania, FYR of Macedonia , SCG, Kosovo (UNMIK), Croatia

TBD 24 months UNMIK

3. Assistance to SEE companies in introducing EMAS and ISO 14000 standards

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia , Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (UNMIK), Bulgaria

TBD 18 months Croatia

4. Sharing experiences in the development and introduction of economic instruments

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia Romania, Serbia & Montenegro, Kosovo (UNMIK)

TBD 24 months Croatia

5. Joint training for the officials exercising boundary control related to International Conventions

Bulgaria, FYR of Macedonia , SCG, Romania, Albania

TBD 18 months Bulgaria

Project Title Countries & Admin. Territories involved

Budget €

Duration Originator

III Nature Protection (incl. Biod) 1. Capacity building of municipalities located in areas rich in biodiversity for the management of valuable shared natural resources

Albania, FYR of Macedonia , SCG TBD 18 months UNMIK

NEXT STEPS

• Further development of the proposed project ideas is needed -

Development of a REReP Sub-Programme

for Cross-border cooperation in SEE

• Activities to be coordinated and facilitated by REC

• All comments on project ideas should be addressed to REReP secretariat