Regional

EU & Serbia and Montenegro: CARDS Regional

Development of regional cooperation in the Western Balkan region is encouraged by the European Union and it is in the interest of the SCG: it is a catalyst for reconciliation and good-neighborliness, improved political relations and stability as well as economic prosperity. Many of the challenges facing the SCG are not only common to the country but also have a cross-border dimension.

SCG have opted for Europe. The European Union is built on deeply rooted foundations of regional cooperation. At its origin, the European project had a common will to foster co-operation between former enemies and share strategic resources to put an end to a long tradition of intra-European conflicts. Throughout the European Union’s history, dialogue and co-operation have played a crucial role. Development of normal neighborly relations among the Western Balkan countries is a fundamental EU standard.

Given the history of the Western Balkans, the regional dimension is of particular importance for the stability and development of the region. In recent years regional co-operation has greatly helped in healing the wounds of the Balkan wars of the 1990s as emphasized the formal list of priorities in the Thessaloniki Agenda so to reconcile for the future and enhance regional cooperation; for instance by promoting economic development: there is now a network of free trade agreements , a plan for integrating the region’s energy supplies, plans to complete major transport links and regional initiatives to deal with environmental problems. In this way, regional cooperation is essential for increasing prosperity and economic growth. It is a necessary for sustainable economic recovery and expansion and need therefore to be pursued both within the region and between the region and its neighbors, the EU included.

Also in other areas such as cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs, concerted action is indispensable, not just as an end itself but also a signal to the rest of Europe that all Western Balkan countries have the EU’s determination on these issues.

Thus, regional cooperation is a cornerstone of the European Union’s policy framework for the SCG, notably within the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) , which offers the perspective of EU membership. Although responsibility for the implementation of the action oriented measures lies with the SCG, the European Union supports this process, providing particularly political support, guidance, financial assistance and through the monitoring of implementation.

In this perspective, regional cooperation is financially supported through CARDS Programme regional envelope as defined within a pluri-annual strategic framework, the regional strategy paper 2002-2006, which programming is then detailed in Multi annual Indicative programme. For 2005-2006, the envelope funds regional projects in the following priority areas: institution building, cross-border co-operation, private sector development and infrastructure development.

Energy

The project of a South East Europe Regional Energy Market , which should provide modern and liberalised gas and electricity systems, will be a key to a regional energy market based on European standards, transparent rules and mutual trust and it create the right environment for the optimal development of the energy sector.

Significant progress is being made on forming a regional energy market and rebuilding infrastructure. The EU supports the process initiated in 2002 with the signing in Athens of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Regional Electricity Market on South-East Europe and confirmed with the Athens 2003 Memorandum of Understanding . In December 2004, representatives of the 25 EU Member States and the states of South East Europe – including the Western Balkan countries – agreed on the basic principles contained in a text of a Treaty to formally establish an Energy Community between them. The Treaty is expected to be signed by mid-2005.

The Energy Community will create a single regulatory space for energy in the European peninsula with the aim to bring the national legislation of the member countries in line with the European energy legislation . It will serve the interests of both parties in terms of reinforced security of supply. It will also help South East European countries to address energy poverty issues with the aim of providing power supply to all citizens at an affordable price as well as to substantially contribute in attracting investment into this strategic sector. This represents a major step forward on bringing lasting stability and growth to the region and the Energy Treaty will clearly give a strong political signal to South East Europe for further EU integration of other sectors such as transport and telecommunications.

Transport

Infrastructure development is of vital importance for developing the economies of the Western Balkans; it is an initial and indispensable requirement for an increase in economic growth. However, infrastructures without reforms necessary to strengthen institutions which will promote sound development policies, cannot promote economic growth and social cohesion nor achieve much of regional and cross border integration.

The Infrastructure Steering Group for South-eastern Europe , chaired by the European Commission and associating International Financial Institutions and the Stability Pact for South-eastern Europe is accomplishing important work in identifying major priority infrastructure projects in transport, energy and telecommunications in the region. The drawing of an integrated regional transport strategy, consistent with the Trans-European Networks and taking into account the Pan-European Corridors is a high priority.

Thus a Memorandum of Understanding on the South East Europe Transport Network was signed in June 2004 drawing the perspective of an integrated regional transport strategy, consistent with the Trans-European Network. The signatory countries, the EU, the Stability Pact and International Financial Institutions are working jointly to expedite the implementation of the Memorandum. Click on following link for more information concerning transport in South East Europe.

In the area of civil aviation, in December 2004, the European Commission was granted of the mandate to negotiate an European Common Aviation Area Agreement (ECAA) with Western Balkan countries which would lead to their inclusion in the Single Aviation Market. The ECAA was expressly designed as an open framework accessible for other European countries and in February 2004, through the Communication on aviation relations with neighbouring countries. The first negotiating meeting with the partner countries concerned is scheduled for March 2005.

Environment

Combating the deterioration of the environment is not a task that can be achieved by any one country on its own. In this perspective, the European Union supports projects on a regional significance and regional initiatives in the area of environmental protection.

The Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South-East Europe (REReP) is an initiative under the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (Working Table II) gathering together the countries in Central, Eastern and South East Europe with the International Financial Institutions (EBRD, EIB, World Bank), the European Commission, the Stability Pact, interested EU Member States and other bilateral donors. It is shaped by the countries of the region themselves — including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro including Kosovo.

The Regional Environmental Centre was established in 1990 by the European Commission, the United States and Hungary. It is legally based on the Charter of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe , signed by the governments of 28 countries and the European Commission.

The European Commission has committed to support the management of the Sava River Basin Initiative and to help the establishment of co-operation mechanisms between the countries of the SAVA and its basin.

CARDS REGIONAL JHA PROJECTS

CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Development and Stabilisation) is the EU financial assistance programming underpinning the objectives of the EU Policy for the Western Balkans, namely the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Strategy papers and Multi-annual Indicative Programmes at both the regional and national levels provide the strategic framework in which assistance is provided.

Through the CARDS Regional projects, priority actions of the strategy for regional assistance correspond the initiatives with the strong regional dimension where objectives can be better achieved and support can be better delivered at regional level, such as the enhancement of regional and international co-operation and networking

CARDS Regional projects are designed with the primary objective to support the development of a regional strategy, based upon benchmarks of commonly accepted technical standards, practices and principles for all CARDS beneficiary countries, namely Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, including Kosovo.

The area of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) is considered a major priority under the SAP process, (link) and this is reflected also in the allocations under the European Commission’s CARDS assistance programme, both at the regional and national level – roughly one Euro in six is devoted to the broad areas of justice system reform, policing and the fight against organised crime, asylum and migration, or integrated border management. The JHA related programmes constitute an important part of both the National and Regional assistance programmes.

Regional programmes further contribute to develop a detailed national strategy together with an implementation action plan, with the main objectives to provide guidance and training towards a common understanding of the EU acquis and of European and International standards and best practices in this area, and, on the other hand, to support formal and informal networking and regional and international co-operation towards a community of practitioners.

National CARDS projects are the concrete and operational instrument to co-finance the implementation of the strategies developed or endorsed at Regional level and supported by the CARDS Regional projects.

The first round of regional JHA projects, adopted in 2001 has been successfully completed, while the second round of JHA projects, adopted under the CARDS 2002 and 2003 programmes has been on-going since early 2004, or is about to start its activities, in the several major JHA areas, covering Judiciary, Police, introducing the concept of Integrated Border Management, fostering the regional approach in Visa regime, Migration andAsylum policies and finally, in the area of improvement of the Penitentiary management.

Regional projects should be seen as a tool for regional and sectoral networking, exchange of experience and information, as well as a strategic umbrella defining common benchmarks for the region and for each of the five main areas mentioned above, in view of clarifying the position of the EU in these fields.

By identifying in detail the gaps and needs in each sector, each beneficiary builds up its own programming and absorption capacities. This contributes to the development of a sustainable institution building. Finally, it allows the EU institutions and member States to better allocate EU resources and co-ordinate with other possible donors.

Supplement on National JHA CARDS Projects:

The CARDS JHA National projects are targeted towards specific country needs. These projects should provide the financial assistance to implement the regional strategies, through a large panel of very concrete and tailor made projects.

A large part of these national allocations should continue to be used for adopting relevant legal frameworks and reinforcing the administrative and implementing capacities of all their law enforcement bodies. The main tool in this respect that should be further promoted in the Western Balkans is the financing of either missions of police and judicial staff, or of Twinning arrangements with (current or future) EU Member States. This is probably the best approach for Institution building. More importantly, it seems to be the best way to build reciprocal trust and confidence on a long-term basis (essential aspect of Justice and Home Affairs).

The other increasing part is directed towards the investments, i.e. the supply of any kind of necessary equipment (transport means, laboratory equipment, detection tools, etc…) or the financing of the building/rehabilitation of appropriate infrastructures (such as border crossing points) for ensuring the enforcement of the JHA acquis.

The already on-going projects in this thematic “cluster” include projects in the following areas:

• Asylum, Migration and Visa. This two-year project of 3M€ started activities in January 2004, and held its opening conference in Sarajevo in April 2004. The project is implemented by the Swedish Migration Board (SMB) in consortium with specialised international organisations, namely the UNHCR on asylum, the IOM on (legal) migration, and the ICMPD on visa issues. Each of the specific modules has already delivered a series of specialised training sessions on respectively asylum, migration and visa, to practitioners of the five countries. As a “common hat” to the three sub-areas, the SMB is elaborating, in close co-ordination with its consortium partners and with Commission services, guidelines on the integrated management of asylum, migration and visa issues. Link to
• Policing systems, police co-operation and the enhancement of the fight against main criminal activities. This two-and-a-half year project started in March 2004 and held its opening conference in Strasbourg in June 2004. The project is implemented by the Council of Europe, which co-finances it for 10% in addition to the 4M€ provided from the CARDS programme. The Council of Europe implements this project in consortium with the IOM for the part which regards illegal migration and human being trafficking. The main focus of the project is, again, to provide region-wide guidance towards strengthening police capacities against serious crime, including economic and financial crime. This project will notably also partly help implement one of the region-wide measures against organised crime, as regards the exchange of information between financial intelligence units (FIU) in the repression of money laundering. A series of training events for police practitioners have already taken place under this project during the second half of 2004.
• Development of independent, reliable and functioning judicial systems and the enhancement of international judicial co-operation. This three-year project is implemented by the Austrian Ministry of Justice, in consortium with Council of Europe and the Ministries of Justice of Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania. In addition to the 5M€ provided for the project from CARDS regional 2003 programme, the Council of Europe has provided own co-financing of 10%. The project started activities in May 2004 and held its opening conference in Skopje in October 2004, and the project’s detailed work programme was endorsed by all participating countries in November 2004. A series of training events have started under this project in the autumn of 2004. In addition to the common training modules, the project was also able to provide ad hoc advice to the justice reform strategy being elaborated for the FYR of Macedonia. This project is notably also helping the implementation of one of the region-wide measures against organised crime, as regards the exchange of information between prosecutors in the region, and the elaboration of a memorandum of understanding which will allow mutual admission of evidence gathered through video-conferencing between prosecutors’ offices, which is an important component of the protection of witnesses both in cases of organised crime and of war crimes.

In addition to this series of on-going CARDS regional JHA projects, two further projects should be starting activities in 2005, in the areas of:

1. Integrated Border Management. This 2M € regional project will provide further guidance to national authorities in the areas of border management, taking as its basis the recently finalised and above mentioned “IBM guidelines for the Western Balkans”. In addition to advising on the elaboration of refinements of national IBM strategies, the project will provide targeted regional training to relevant national authorities, and organise regional meetings of the national Inter-agency Working groups including concerned officials (i.e. border guards, customs officials and officials of other related ministries and agencies). Following a call for proposals to EU member states in the summer of 2004, the project was conditionally awarded to France, and the Commission hopes to be in a position to sign the contract shortly for the project activities to start in early 2005.
2. In the area of Penitentiary management the Commission has decided to re-launch the 1 M€ regional project, and a call for proposals is likely to be launched during the first part of 2005. The project will aim to provide, in the area of prison reform, common training to the region’s practitioners on European and international prison standards