Regional Cooperation: Supporting Peace and State-building

Transcription

1 The challenge of the European integration of Kosovo: regional cooperation and neighbourly relations Regional Cooperation: Supporting Peace and State-building Jelica Minić European Movement of Serbia Prishtina 24 May 2017

2 Regional Organizations African Union Arab League Asia Cooperation Dialogue Association of Caribbean States Association of Southeast Asian Nations Caribbean Community Central American Integration System Commonwealth of Independent States Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Council of Europe East African Community Economic Community of West African States Economic Cooperation Organization Eurasian Economic Union European Union GUAM Gulf Cooperation Council Latin American Parliament Melanesian Spearhead Group Mercosur NATO Nordic Council Organization of American States Pacific Islands Forum Polynesian Leaders Group Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Shanghai Cooperation Organisation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation TAKM Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat Turkic Council Union of South American Nations NORDEFCO West Nordic Council

3 Organisations grouping almost all the countries in their respective continents. Russia is member of both the Council of Europe (COE) and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD),

4 Several smaller regional organizations with non-overlapping memberships

5 Annex 1 Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE Based on the RCC mapping of regional initiatives and task forces in 2010 and descriptive Overview of Regional Initiatives and Task Forces in South East Europe, Annex III of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme , and RCC Strategy and Work Programme , Annex rich.pdf as well as news on the and on the web sites of other regional initiatives

6 Economic and Social Development Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Regional Initiative Country Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Slovenia SEE Investment Committee (SEEIC) observer - Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) - Brussels x x x x x x x Business Advisory Council (BAC) - Thessaloniki x x x x x x x x x x x x Regional Network of National Investment Promotion Agencies in SEE (RNIPA) - Rotating x x x x x x Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) - Skopje x x x x x x x x x Centre for Public Employment Services of SEE Countries (CPESSC) - Rotating x x x x x x x x x SEE Trade Union Forum (SEETUF) - Zagreb/Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x Adriatic Region Employers' Centre (AREC) - Zagreb x x x x x x SEE Health Network -Skopje x x x x x x x x x Western Balkans Social Agenda 2020 Working Group - Sarajevo x x x x x x x esee Initiative and bsee Task Force - UNDP Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x

7 Energy and Infrastructure Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Regional Initiative Country Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Energy Community Secretariat (ECS) - Vienna x x x x x x x x South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO) - Belgrade x x x x x x x ISIS Programme Secretariat - Brussels x x x x x x x Joint Service Provision Area (JSPA) in South East Europe - rotating x observer x observ. x x International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) - Zagreb x x x Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) -Szentendre, Hungary x x x x x x x x x Environment and Climate Regional Accession Network (ECRAN) - Vienna x x x x x x x x Slovenia and others EC, RCC Hungary Slovenia Slovenia and 18 more European countries and USA

8 Justice and Home Affairs Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Regional Initiative Country Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Montenegro Kosovo* Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey and Slovenia others Migration, Asylum and Refugee Regional Initiative (MARRI) - Skopje x x x x x x Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) - Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC) - Bucharest x x x x x x x x x x X Southeast European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG) - Bucharest x x x x x x x x x x X Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) - Sofia x x x x x x x x x Women Police Officer Network (WPON) - No headquarters x x x x x x x x x Secretariat of Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC- SEE Secretariat) - Ljubljana x x x x x x x x Western Balkans Prosecutor Network (PROSECO) - No headquarters x x x x x x x Hungary, Slovenia Hungary Slovenia Slovenia Hungary Austria South East Europe Law Schools Network (SEELS) - Skopje x x x x x x

9 Security Cooperation Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Country Regional Initiative Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Slovenia and others Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) Slovenia -Zagreb x x x x x x x x x Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI SEE) partner - Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x Slovenia South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) - Belgrade x x x x x x x x RCC, UNDP South East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM) - Rotating x x x x x observer x x x x x Italy, Ukraine, Slovenia, USA, Georgia as observer The United States- Adriatic Charter - No headquarters x x x x x USA Forum for Western Balkans Defence Cooperation (SEEC) - No headquarters x x x x x x Slovenia

10 Building Human Capital and Cross-cutting Issues Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Regional Initiative Country Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Slovenia and Others RCC Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital (TFBHC) -Vienna x x x x x x x x x x x x RCC Gender Task Force (GTF) - Zagreb x x x x x x x x x x x All members of RCC Board Slovenia Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) TFFBHC -Belgrade x x x x x x x x Regional Platform for Benchmarking and Cooperation in Higher Education and Research - Dubrovnik x x x x x x Slovenia South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) -Zagreb x x x x x x x x The Western Balkans Research and Innovation Strategy Exercise Facility (WISE) x x x x x x x

11 Parliamentary Cooperation Annex I Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Regional Initiative Country Albania Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Slovenia Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South Eastern Europe (RSPC SEE) - Sofia x x x x x x x x x x x x Conference of the European Integration Parliamentary Committees of States participating to the Stabilization and Association Process (COSAP) - Rotating x x x x x x x CETINJE Parliamentary Forum - Cetinje x x x x x x x x x

12 Overarching Initiatives Good Governance Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE in 2014 Annex I Regional Initiative Country Albania Bulgaria Croatia Greece Moldova Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro Romania Serbia Macedonia Turkey Kosovo* Slovenia Regional School of Public Administration (RESPA) -Danilovgrad x x x x x x Network of Associations of Local Authorities of SEE (NALAS) - Skopje x x x x x x x x x x x x South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) - Rotating Regional Cooperation Council - Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Total: observer 1 member partner 1 observer 1 member observer 1 member observ. 1 memb

13 Table 1. SEE Regional Cooperation Events per Area Cooperation Area Organized/ co-organised by RCC Others Total Economic and Social Development Energy and Infrastructure Justice and Home Affairs Security Cooperation Building Human Capital Parliamentary Cooperation Media Cooperation Cooperation of Local Communities Civil Society Cooperation Events of political profile Horizontal Cooperation RCC PR Managing of the RCC Total

14 Table 2. SEE Regional Cooperation Meetings/per country SEE Country Town Total Albania Tirana 7 Duress 2 9 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo 64 Banja Luka 4 Mostar 1 69 Bulgaria Sofia 7 Burgas 1 Pravec 1 9 Croatia Zagreb 19 Dubrovnik 3 Cavtat 1 Split 2 Zadar 1 Pula 1 Rovinj 1 Opatija 1 29 Greece Thessaloniki 2 2 Moldova Chisinau 1 1 Montenegro Podgorica 3 Cetinje 2 Budva 17 Danilovgrad 2 Milocer 1 25 Romania Bucharest 4 4 Serbia Belgrade 32 Novi Sad 1 Palic 1 Kopaonik 3 Viminacium 1 Arandjelovac 1 Slovenia Ljubljana 7 Bled 4 Brdo kod Kranja 1 Maribor 1 13 The Former Yugoslav Republic Skopje 8 Ohrid 5 13 of Macedonia Turkey Ankara 1 Istanbul 4 Antalya 1 6 Kosovo* Pristina 5 Peja 1 6 Subtotal 225 *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 39

15 Western Balkans in 2020 Result of a Broad Consultative Process

16 Five pillars of SEE 2020 Integrated growth deeper regional trade and investment linkages and policies enhancing the flow of goods, investment, services and persons Smart growth commitment to compete on value added, promoting knowledge and innovation across the board Inclusive growth skills development, employment creation and labour market participation by all, including vulnerable groups and minorities Sustainable growth enhancing competitiveness, entrepreneurship and a commitment to greener and more energy-efficient development Governance for growth improving the capacity of public administrations to strengthen the rule of law and reduce corruption so as to create a business-friendly environment

17 SEE 2020 Implementing Structure Ministries of trade, economy, investment SEEIC CEFTA Ministries of PAR, justice, interior, judicial authorities RAI pillar: integrate d growth ERI SEE TFCS e-see Ministries of education, science, information society, culture RESPA NALAS pillar: governan ce GovBoard RCC pillar: smart growth R&D Platform SEE 2020 Ministries of education, employment, social affairs, health IGWGSD SEEHN SEECEL pillar: inclusive growth pillar: sustainab le growth REC SEETO SEEIC ECS Ministries of economy, energy, environment, agriculture, transport

18 Networks and initiatives in the area of security and justice and home affairs in SEE, 2012 Iztok Prezelj, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana

19 Introduction Regional cooperation in the Western Balkans has demonstrated its viability in the last two decades. In the initial phase, international support was the key factor inducing the re-establishment of regional connections. Since the transfer of ownership from internationally led structures towards those that are regionally owned began in 2008, the flourishing of regional initiatives, networks, task forces, and projects has taken place, and led to the new reality of one or two regional meetings (or meetings devoted to the region) per day in recent years. This presentation will offer short analysis of the general constellation and main players and mechanisms of cooperation, as well as the chronology, existing challenges, obstacles, and prospects for its further development.

20 What, where, who, why... What: Regional cooperation is a global phenomenon which assumes a different form, size and scope in the many areas of political, social and economic life. Where: The SEE region includes countries that have been granted candidate status (Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania)and those aspiring to achieve candidate status and eventually start EU accession negotiations (Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo), one country whose European aspirations are pursued within a different EU institutional framework (Moldova), as well as several EU member states (Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia). The Western Balkans consist of Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

21 When: There are more than 20 years since the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the re-establishment of multilateral cooperation in the region (SEECP). Who: The great number of players involved requires an appropriate structuring and prioritization in evaluating their role. How: The aspirations to join the EU and NATO, as well as an extensive reliance on international financial institutions (IFIs) and other donors, imply heavy conditionality. Regional cooperation is among the major preconditions for support (through the coordination of various sector policies and donors assistance, and the development and promotion of regional projects demanding common efforts, networking, or an economy of scale which attracts foreign investors). Simultaneously, countries of the region develop different forms of cooperation through their autonomous initiatives. Direction of actions: From the very beginning top-down course of action has been followed, and in some areas even preceded by another that was bottom-up (in particular by civil society organizations and local communities).

22 Why: Regional cooperation is an important EU membership pre-condition, but also a means to foster dialogue, reconciliation and stability, as well as socio-economic development across the SEE region: - At the beginning, regional cooperation in the Balkans was regarded mainly as a peace strategy. - Later on, regional cooperation in SEE was understood as part of the wider context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, and was seen as instrumental for the core objectives of the EU and NATO in this region. - It took some time before it was understood as something valuable in itself as instrumental in providing the requisites for socio-economic development, competitiveness, and an overall better image of the region before it is fully integrated into the EU.

23 Interests There are specific interests behind the institutions providing the framework for some of the activities through which the multilateral cooperation manifests itself. When establishing and developing regional cooperation, these interests were not guided only by the prospect of European integration. The authentic regional interests emerged and were recognized. The characteristics of these interests and those who uphold them differ from one field of cooperation to another. Certain forms of economic cooperation like science, culture, sport, civil society, and local communities, had all beaten their own paths to cooperation already, without too much intervention on the part of state institutions these came later. With increasing frequency, however, it is the governments that stand firmly behind key projects in regulating the regional market, infrastructure, energy and transport. Here the EU has stimulated and assisted the emergence of institutions of cooperation. New bodies of interest are being set up directed at making multilateral cooperation sustainable in the long term.

24 Phases Since the year 1999, when the conflicts and dissolution of the former Yugoslavia ended, regional cooperation in the Balkans has had an exponential growth. Although many countries of the region had already joined various regional organizations established in the previous decade, or even earlier, such as the Central European Initiative (CEI), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), or the Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII), and in 1996 the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) practical, sectoral and SEE region-focused cooperation has flourished only after the achievement of peace arrangements and the basic stabilization of the political climate in the region. The SEECP and the Stability Pact for South East Europe provided the operational framework and principal guidance for this process. The first of these was fully regionally owned and operated at the political level. The second was externally induced by the EU and other interested international partners like the US and Russia, in This was preceded in the same year by the SAP, as the European perspective incentive which combined the real interests of the Balkan countries in peace, stability and prosperity, with a strong external conditionality (the EU and to a considerable extent NATO). That was the playing ground which was defined mostly from outside the region, but supported by the region itself. The next phase in the further consolidation of this framework was marked by the Thessaloniki EU Western Balkans Summit in 2003, which explicitly opened the European perspective to this post-conflict region, and simultaneously offered additional incentives for regional cooperation in concrete areas in which the EU invited the region to follow its key policies (trade liberalization, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, research and development, access to specific EU programs, etc).

25 Players 18 years after, there is a following structure of regional players: SEECP as a strong regional promoter of stabilization and reforms, covering the whole of the Balkans, and fully regionally owned and governed from the very beginning; Stability Pact for SEE has been transformed into the regionally owned Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), which in 2017 celebrates its ninth anniversary as an effective operational arm of the SEECP and the main regional coordination mechanism. Over 50 different regional organizations, initiatives and networks operating in the wide spectrum of areas of common interest for the countries in the region. Most of them have been established by the interested stakeholders in the region, or in cooperation with external partners and, in some cases, by the EU or other international agencies/organizations.

26 Public Opinion Survey: Main findings Support for regional cooperation continues to be strong and there is the perception that it has been improving Support for the EU integration remains relatively weak and Euroscepticism is gaining strength in some economies EU integration fares better if set against any alternative, which is similar to the attitude that is currently prevalent in the EU itself

27 Public Opinion Survey: Main findings Employment rate continues to be low Inequality is perceived as increasing Risk of falling into poverty is increasing Labour markets continue to reward connections and education Leaving the economy and the region is still quite desirable Governance continues to be seen as the main problem Corruption is widespread

28 What do you think are the two most important problems facing your economy?

29 Do you agree that regional cooperation can contribute to the political, economic or security situation of your society?

30 Do you think that EU membership would be (is for Croatia) a good thing, a bad thing, or neither good nor bad?

31 Conclusion In politically divided regions, most conflicts, interstate or intrastate, are caused by or associated with weak state institutions. Global infrastructure in conflict management has been more effective at freezing conflicts than finding sustainable solutions. Most of the interventions are state-centric. Economic and civil society stakeholders are traditionally excluded from negotiation processes between the parties to a conflict. Under conditions of poor governance and underdevelopment, poverty and unemployment, corruption and lack of democracy, negotiated agreements are hard to consolidate. The institutional infrastructure of regional integration condition the prospects and effectiveness of conflict management and peace building. The impact of regional arrangements and the extent of changes in the society are simultaneous and interconnected. Reconciliation is the ultimate goal of the intervention in conflict management. This is also the measure of success of cultivating institutionalized peace system for addressing current and future conflicts or tensions in the Western Balkans. See: Anna Ohanyan, Networked Regionalism as Conflict Management, Stanford University Press, 2015.