Western Balkans and Europe 2020 Towards Convergence and

Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth Regional Coordination Meeting Europe 2020, Western Balkans and the Role of the RCC Secretariat Jelica Minić Deputy Secretary General of the RCC Brussels, 30 -31 March 2011

Key challenges in the Western Balkans • Reconciliation, stability and good neighbourly relations. • Necessity for a new model of development and growth (export led growth, investments in tradables, SMEs, PPP) • Re-positioning in European and global constellations. • Poor physical, institutional and social infrastructure. • Under-utilization of existing resources. • Lack of human capital and low innovation capacity. • Slow reforms – strengthening the EU Accession leverage is needed. • Improved regulatory framework, institution building and enhanced administrative capacities. • Synchronizing and focusing activities of regional cooperation networks.

Europe 2020: Relevance for Enlargement Policy • Europe 2020 offers the enlargement countries an anchor for reforms. • The countries are invited to adapt and adopt relevant headline targets • Enlargement countries should participate actively in the European Union programmes. • The countries are invited to organise their work on the Europe 2020 related issues in regional groups.

Europe 2020: Three interlinked priorities 1. Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation 2. Sustainable growth: promoting a more efficient, greener and more competitive economy 3. Inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion

Europe 2020 headline targets additional suggestions

Europe 2020: Integrated Guidelines for National Reforms Programmes • • • Guideline 1: Ensuring the quality and the sustainability of public finances Guideline 2: Addressing macroeconomic imbalances Guideline 3: Reducing imbalances within the euro area Guideline 4: Optimising support for R & D and innovation, strengthening the knowledge triangle and unleashing the potential of the digital economy Guideline 5: Improving resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases Guideline 6: Improving the business and consumer environment, and modernising and developing the industrial base Guideline 7: Increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment Guideline 8: Developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs, promoting job quality and lifelong learning Guideline 9: Improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education Guideline 10: Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty

Europe 2020 “flagship initiatives” • • Innovation Union Youth on the move Digital Agenda for Europe Resource efficient Europe Industrial policy for the globalization era Agenda for new skills and jobs European platform against poverty

Mechanisms of cooperation in the framework of Europe 2020 • Europe 2020 flagship initiatives recognise that in some areas, enlargement countries can work together with member states and join the open method of coordination exercises. • Policy coordination organised under the 7 initiatives implies peer learning, setting joint targets and regular reporting. • These activities can be financed via EU Programmes such as the 7 th Framework Programme, Competitiveness and Innovation, Lifelong Learning and others. • Most enlargement countries participate in EU programmes and can, if their administrative capacities allow, fully benefit from activities at the EU level.

New RCC Strategy for 2011 -2013: Horizontal Priorities • • • Represent the region Assist the SEECP Monitor regional activities Exert strategic leadership in regional cooperation Provide a regional perspective in donor assistance Support increased involvement of civil society in regional activities Priority areas • • • Economic and social development Energy and infrastructure Justice and home affairs Security cooperation Building human capital and overarching issues

Priority 1: Smart Growth EU 2020 FLAGSHIP CORRESPONDING INITIATIVE (“Areas most REGIONAL PLATFORM in need of attention”) (“Setting the Strategy and Mapping Convergence”) REGIONAL INITIATIVES/GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS/TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (“Monitoring and Supporting implementation”) 1. Digital agenda for Europe e. SEE Agenda+ e. SEE/b. SEE Working Group, Ce. GD SEE ICT Forum Community Programmes (e. g. CIP, FP 7) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX) 2. Innovation Union Regional R&D Strategy for Innovation Higher Education Reform in the Western Balkans Steering Platform on WBC-INCO. NET SEE-ERA. Net, ERA-Net+ Community Programmes (e. g. CIP, FP 7) ERISEE TFBHC Community Programmes (Youth in Action, ERASMUS Mundus) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX) 3. Youth on the Move

Priority 2: Sustainable Growth EU 2020 FLAGSHIP CORRESPONDING INITIATIVE (“Areas most REGIONAL PLATFORM in need of attention”) (“Setting the Strategy and Mapping Convergence”) 1. Resource Efficient Europe REGIONAL INITIATIVES/GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS/TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (“Monitoring and Supporting implementation”) Integrated infrastructure development Sustainable Energy Development Regional Initiative 2. An Industrial Policy SEE Investment for the Globalization Committee Era ECT RENA SEETO/Transport Community SEE PPP Network Community Programmes (LIFE+ Financial Instrument for the Environment, FP 7) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX) SEE Investment Committee CEFTA ABC BAC OECD Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

Priority 3: Inclusive Growth EU 2020 FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE (“Areas most in need of attention”) CORRESPONDING REGIONAL PLATFORM (“Setting the Strategy and Mapping Convergence”) 1. An Agenda for New Social Agenda for the Skills and Jobs Western Balkans 2020 2. European Platform Against Poverty Social Agenda for the Western Balkans 2020 REGIONAL INITIATIVES/GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS/TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (“Monitoring and Supporting implementation”) WB Social Agenda 2020 working groups SEECEL SEE Employment Network GTF ETF Community Programmes (Integrated Action Programme in Lifelong Learning) Higher Education Reform (Tempus) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX) WB Social Agenda Working Groups SEE Health Network Community Programmes (PROGRESS) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

Priority 4: Governance for Growth EU 2020 FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE (“Areas most in need of attention”) CORRESPONDING REGIONAL PLATFORM (“Setting the Strategy and Mapping Convergence”) REGIONAL INITIATIVES/GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS/TOOLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (“Monitoring and Supporting implementation”) 1. Good Governance Agenda Regional Strategic RESPA Document for Justice Ce. GD and Home Affairs NALAS RAI SECI/SELEC SEEPAG PCC-SEE Secretariat SEDM Others

Western Balkans in 2020 Result of a Broad Consultative Process

Survey of Regional Initiatives in SEE - Summary Findings 1. Institutional Outline of Cooperation in SEE 2. Funding 3. Regional Coordination 4. Overview of activities

Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Country Albania Bosnia and Bulgaria Croatia Greece Herzegovina Economic and Social Development Regional Initiative SEE Investment Committee (SEEIC) - Paris Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) - Brussels Business Advisory Council (BAC) - Thessaloniki Regional Network of National Investment Promotion Agencies in SEE (RNIPA) - Rotating Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) - Skopje SEE Employment and Social Policy Network (SEESPN) - No headquarters Centre for Public Employment Services of SEE Countries (CPESSC) - Rotating SEE Trade Union Forum (SEETUF) - Zagreb/Sarajevo Adriatic Region Employers' Centre (AREC) - Zagreb SEE Health Network -Skopje x x x x Republic Romani of Montenegro Serbia a Moldova x x x The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia x x x x Turkey UNMIK/ Kosovo x x x x x x x x x x x x x Slovenia x Centre for e. Governance Development (Ce. GD) - Ljubljana e. SEE Initiative and b. SEE Task Force - UNDP Sarajevo Slovenia and Others RCC/PPP x x x x x

Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) -Vienna x x x South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO), expected future Transport Community - Belgrade x x Country Republic Monteneof gro Moldova The Former Slove= Roma. UNMIK/ Serbia Yugoslav Republic Turkey nia and nia Kosovo of Macedonia Others Energy and Infrastructure Regional Initiative ISIS Programme Secretariat -Brussels International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) - Zagreb x x Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) - Szentendre, Hungary x x Regional Environmental Network for Accession - Vienna x x Network of Associations of Local Authorities of SEE (NALAS) - Skopje x x x x X x x x x x Sloven ia 19 more Europ ean countr ies and USA x x x EC, RCC x x x Slovenia

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Country Bosnia and Albania Bulgaria Croatia Greece Herzegovina Justice and Home Affairs Regional Initiative Migration, Asylum and Refugee Regional Initiative (MARRI) - Skopje x x Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) - Sarajevo x x x x x x Southeast European Cooperative Initiative – Regional Centre for Combating Transborder Crime (SECI Centre) , future Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC) - Bucharest Southeast European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG) - Bucharest Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) - Sofia Women Police Officer Network (WPON) - No headquarters Secretariat of Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCCSEE Secretariat) - Ljubljana Western Balkans Prosecutor Network (PROSECO) - No headquarters Republic Monteneof Romania gro Moldova x x Annex I Serbia The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia x x Turkey Slove. UNMIK/ nia and Kosovo Others x x x X Hungary, Observer Slovenia x x x X Slovenia x x x x x x Observer

Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Country Security Cooperation Regional Initiative Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) -Zagreb Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI SEE) - Sarajevo South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) - Belgrade South East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM) - Rotating The United States. Adriatic Charter - No headquarters South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse (SEEC) - No headquarters Bosnia and Albania Bulgaria Croatia Greece Herzegovina x x x Republic Monteneof gro Moldova x x Romania x x Serbia The Former Yugoslav UNMIK/ Turkey Others Republic of Kosovo Macedonia x x x Slovenia RCC, UNDP x x x Observer x x x x Italy, Ukraine, Slovenia, USA x Slovenia

Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Country Albania Bosnia and Bulgaria Herzegovina Croatia Greece Republic of Montenegro Romania Moldova Serbia Building Human Capital and Cross-cutting Issues Regional Initiative RCC Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital (TF BHC) -Vienna RCC Gender Task Force (GTF) - Zagreb Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) -Belgrade Regional School of Public Administration (RESPA) -Danilovgrad South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) -Zagreb The Former Yugoslav Republic Turkey of Macedonia x UNMIK/ Kosovo Slovenia and Others x All members of RCC Board x x x x x x Slovenia x x x x x TFFBHC x x x x

Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Country Bosnia and Republic Montene. Albania Herzego- Bulgaria Croatia Greece of Romania gro vina Moldova Serbia The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Turkey x x x Parliamentary Cooperation Regional Initiative Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South Eastern Europe (RSPC SEE) - Sofia Conference of the European Integration Parliamentary Committees of States participating to the Stabilization and Association Process (COSAP) - Rotating CETINJE Parliamentary Forum - Cetinje Regional Cooperation Council Total: 42 Headquarters South East Europe: Per 26+ 4 rotating country: x x x x 38 40 x x x x x 24 39 x 20 39 25 39 39 x UNMIK/ Kosovo Slovenia and Others x 13 17 n. x Slove 12 2 Slov. 7 0 4 2 6 1 0 2 2 3 4 0 0 others

Figure 1. Institutional structure and legal form of RIs Network 17% Project 13% NGO 30% IGO 40%

Figure 2. Sources of funding of RIs in 2010 EC 31% Private 1% SEE Gov'ts 20% Int'l donors and Other Gov'ts 48%

Additional suggestions 1. Networking and information exchange – a number of RIs indicated that there is a need for regular periodic meetings, both between the RIs and with donors in order to exchange information and network with others; 2. Increasing awareness on regional cooperation initiatives and structures – awareness raising activities to target not just a narrow circle of practitioners, but also the general public in the countries of the region; 3. Better streamlining of existing RIs – avoiding and eliminating duplication, while further strengthening successful structures and cooperation programmes; 4. Involvement of regional civil society initiatives and networks in the work of RCC and other sectoral organizations.

Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2010 -2011 “The enlargement process contributes to the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy by extending the area of the EU’s regulatory framework and creating new trading opportunities. The Commission welcomes the intention of many enlargement countries to reflect the Europe 2020 strategy in their national reform priorities. The Commission will associate enlargement countries with initiatives taken at EU level to meet the goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. . . The Commission will propose to the Regional Cooperation Council that it sets up platforms for dialogue and peer review in …areas in line with Europe 2020 priorities. When programming IPA assistance, the Commission will take into account the priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy”. 9 November, 2010

Relevance of EU umbrella strategies for candidates and potential candidates • Strong potential to anchor reforms and facilitate EU accession: competitiveness, employment, education, research, innovations, meeting challenge of good governance - not additional criteria • Strategic thinking - strategic approach to policy development: identifying regional priorities and objectives in different areas, prioritization • Commitment to common goals helps to change national policies: strategic documents, action plans, common targets, policy learning • Adoption of good practice: improving system of monitoring, peer reviews, benchmarking, and collecting indicators, harmonised with EU structural indicators (EUROSTAT) • Support of European Commission - facilitating implementation: deepening policy dialogue with EU, strengthening institutional capacities, support from pre-accession funds (IPA; IPA Multi-Beneficiary) • Regional initiatives / activities - asset for supporting reforms: coordinated efforts and strengthening focus on Europe 2020 related reforms • RCC - Regional Cooperation Council’s role: providing political commitment, networking and coordination, streamlining, strengthening bottom-up approach and regional ownership