Jelica MinićDeputy Secretary General of the RCC

International Conference Social Entrepreneurship: A Vector of Change in the EU,

Ljubljana, 15-16 April 2011

Social Entrepreneurship and South-East Europe: An Opportunity for Sustainable Change

Evolving role of the Regional Cooperation Council• As a new, regionally owned organisation the RCC represents the region,

supports and initiates regional cooperation - 13 SEE beneficiaries • The RCC operates under the political umbrella of the South East Europe

Cooperation Process (SEECP). Its objectives, working methods and priority areas for action are defined by the Statute and other documents adopted at Annual Meetings and endorsed by SEECP Summits.

• As the main focal point for regional cooperation, the RCC:

a. has a key role in supporting economic and social development and related reforms;

b. promotes the region’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration of which regional cooperation is an essential part;

c. links the region with donor community in areas with a regional dimension

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.

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

activitiesPriority areas

• Economic and social development• Energy and infrastructure• Justice and home affairs• Security cooperation• Building human capital and overarching issues

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

• 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

Europe 2020 “flagship initiatives”

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 7th 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.

Priority 1: Smart GrowthEU 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”)

Priority 1: Smart growth

1. Digital agenda for Europe

eSEE Agenda+ eSEE/bSEE Working Group, CeGD SEE ICT Forum Community Programmes (e.g. CIP, FP7) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

2. Innovation Union Regional R&D Strategy for Innovation

Steering Platform on WBC-INCO.NET SEE-ERA.Net, ERA-Net+ Community Programmes (e.g. CIP, FP7)

3. Youth on the Move Higher Education Reform in the Western Balkans

ERISEE TFBHC Community Programmes (Youth in

Action, ERASMUS Mundus) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

Priority 2: Sustainable GrowthEU 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”)

Priority 2: Sustainable growth

1. Resource Efficient Europe

Integrated infrastructure development

Sustainable Energy Development Regional Initiative

ECT RENA SEETO/Transport Community SEE PPP Network Community Programmes (LIFE+

Financial Instrument for the Environment, FP7)

Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

2. An Industrial Policy for the Globalization Era

SEE Investment Committee

SEE Investment Committee CEFTA ABC BAC OECD Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

Priority 3: Inclusive GrowthEU 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”)

Priority 3: Inclusive growth1. An Agenda for New

Skills and JobsSocial Agenda for the Western Balkans 2020

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)

2. European Platform Against Poverty

Social Agenda for the Western Balkans 2020

WB Social Agenda Working Groups SEE Health Network Community Programmes (PROGRESS) Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA, TAIEX)

Priority 4: Governance for GrowthEU 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”)

Priority 4: Governance for growth

1. Good Governance Agenda

Regional Strategic Document for Justice and Home Affairs

RESPA CeGD 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 SEE2.Funding3.Regional Coordination4.Overview of activities

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional Initiative

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece

Republic of

MoldovaMontenegro Romani

a SerbiaThe Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo

Slovenia and

Others

Economic and Soci

al Developmen

t

SEE Investment Committee (SEEIC) - Paris x x x x x x x x x

Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) - Brussels x 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

SEE Employment and Social Policy Network (SEESPN) - No headquarters x 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 Slovenia 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

Centre for eGovernance Development (CeGD)- Ljubljana RCC/PPP

eSEE Initiative and bSEE Task Force- UNDP Sarajevo x x x x x x x x x

Annex I

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional Initiative

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece

Republic of

MoldovaMontene-

groRoma-

nia SerbiaThe Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo

Slove=nia and Others

Energy

and Infrastructure

Energy Community Secretariat (ECS)-Vienna x x x x x x x x

South East Europe Transport Observatory (SEETO), expected future Transport Community - Belgrade x x X x x x x

ISIS Programme Secretariat -Brussels x x x x x x x x x

EC, RCC

International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC)- Zagreb x x x

Slovenia

Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)- Szentendre, Hungary x x x x x x x x x

19 more European countries and USA

Regional Environmental Network for Accession - Vienna x x 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

Slove-nia

Annex I

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional Initiative

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece

Republic of

MoldovaMontene-

gro Romania SerbiaThe Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo

Slove- nia and Others

Justice

and Hom

e Affai

rs

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 Observer

Southeast European Cooperative Initiative – Regional Centre for Combating Transborder Crime (SECI Centre) , future Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC)- Bucharest x x x x x x x x x x X Observer

Hungary, Slovenia

Southeast European Prosecutors Advisory Group (SEEPAG)- Bucharest x x x x x x x x x x X Slovenia

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

Annex I

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional InitiativeAlbania Bosnia and

Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia GreeceRepublic

of Moldova

Montene-gro Romania Serbia

The Former Yugoslav

Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo Others

Security Cooperation

Centre for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC)-Zagreb x x x x x x x x

Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative (DPPI SEE)- Sarajevo x 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

RCC, UNDP

South East Europe Defense Ministerial (SEDM)- Rotating x x x x x Observer x x x x x

Italy, Ukraine, Slovenia,USA

The United States- Adriatic Charter- No headquarters x x x x x USA

South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse (SEEC)- No headquarters x x x x x x Slovenia

Annex I

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional Initiative

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Greece Republic of

Moldova Montenegro Romania SerbiaThe Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo

Slovenia and Others

Building

Human

Capital

and Cross

-cuttin

g Issue

s

RCC Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital (TF BHC)-Vienna x x x x x x x x x x x x

All members of RCC Board

RCC Gender Task Force (GTF)- Zagreb x x x x x x x x x x x Slovenia

Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE)-Belgrade x x x x x x x x x x TFFBHC

Regional School of Public Administration (RESPA)-Danilovgrad x x x x x x x

South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL)-Zagreb x x x x x x x x

Annex I

Taskforces and Initiatives in SEE

Country

Regional Initiative

AlbaniaBosnia and Herzego-

vina Bulgaria Croatia Greece

Republic of

MoldovaMontene-

gro Romania SerbiaThe Former

Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Turkey UNMIK/Kosovo

Sloveniaand

Others

Parliamenta

ry Cooperation

Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South Eastern Europe (RSPC SEE)- Sofia 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

CETINJE Parliamentary Forum- Cetinje x x x x x x x x

Regional Cooperation Council x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Total: 42 38 40 24 39 9 20 39 25 39 39 13 17 Sloven.

12

Headquarters South East Europe: 26+ 4 rotating

Per country: 0 4 2 6 1 0 2 2 3 4 0 0

2Slov.

7others

Annex I

IGO40%

NGO30%

Project13%

Network17%

Figure 1. Institutional structure and legal form of RIs

Figure 2. Sources of funding of RIs in 2010

SEE Gov'ts20%

Int'l donors and Other

Gov'ts48%

EC31%

Private1%

Weak18%

Fair39%

Strong43%

Figure 5. Cooperation with RCC

Figure 5. Cooperation with RCC Figure 5. Cooperation with RCC Figure 5. Cooperation with RCC Figure 3: Cooperation with RCC

5%

11%

22%

30%32%

Figure 6. Expected role of RCC going forward Figure 4: Expected role of the RCC going forward

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

• 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

Relevance of EU umbrella strategies for candidates and potential candidates

Further stepsRegional Cooperation Council:• Provide political commitment, networking and coordination, streamlining,

strengthening bottom-up approach and regional ownership. • Obtain political support from SEECP.• Develop a roadmap for further coordination between RIs, national

administrations, IFIs, European Union institutions, and other donorsRegional initiatives / activities - asset for supporting reforms:• Coordinated efforts and strengthening focus on Europe 2020 related policy

goals• Take an immediate role in sectoral platform building on regional issues

related to Europe 2020Support of European Commission - facilitating implementation:• Deepening policy dialogue with EU, strengthening institutional capacities,

support from pre-accession funds (IPA; IPA Multi-Beneficiary)

Social Development

RCC priority: mainstream social development into economic reform deliberations Major areas:

1. Labor and Employment Policy• Bucharest Employment Process

2. Social Dialogue• SEE Trade Union Forum • Adriatic Region Employers’ Center

3. Public Health• SEE Health Network

What Is It?Bucharest Employment Process• Ministers of labor/heads of employment agencies committed to regional cooperation in

employment• Country reviews of employment policy conducted with help of CoE and ILO - recommendations

endorsed by Ministerial Conference in 2007• Regular meetings until 2009 of high level officials (Employment Network) to monitor and

supervise implementation of Bucharest Process

Social Dialogue• Participation of social partners in meetings of the Employment Network• Promotion of a broad social partnership between public authorities and social partners:

involvement of social partners in national tripartite dialogue

SEE Health Network• 21 leading international experts + > 100 health policy makers and technical experts from SEE• Supervises activities of regional public health projects led by countries• Serves as regional cooperation forum • Sample projects: community mental health, tobacco control, safety of blood products, etc.

Overall focus of RCC activities in the area of social development

• Supporting follow-up actions of the Bucharest Employment Process: promote more and better jobs

• Promoting regional social dialogue mechanism and strengthening capacities of social partners

• Supporting regional ownership of SEE Health Network and transforming regional projects into sustainable long term programs

Concrete actions • Social agenda conference, May 25-26, 2011, Sarajevo• Organizer: RCC with support from FES • Objective: Contribute to the establishment of a long term

vision of social development that will align Western Balkans countries closer to the EU social agenda

• Relevance of EU umbrella strategy, Europe 2020: aim at building a common regional vision compatible with the EU 2020 strategy component on inclusive growth with a focus on two main pillars: a) jobs and employment b) poverty reduction/social inclusion

• Expected result: establishment of regional platforms for employment promotion and poverty reduction/social inclusion

• Overall social policy agenda for Western Balkans

• Active employment generation• Social entrepreneurship• Labor mobility • Occupational health and safety• Social protection and security• Social inclusion • Poverty reduction

Possible themes