Institute for International Relations

Regional Network of Think Tank Organizations

The project Ljubljana Agenda for the New Phase of the Stabilisation and Association Process is implemented in 2008, during the period of Slovenian EU Presidency, by the regional network of think tank organizations in which IMO is participating. It is a second project of the same network, developed after successful implementation of project "Regional Framework for Development and European Integration" in 2006 and 2007. The project is supported by the East East Program of the Foundation Open Society Institute, Washington DC and the Balkan Trust for Democracy.

The reform of the European Union, particularly the Reform Treaty and its implications on the functioning of the future EU as well as the response of the EU to the key challenges posed by globalisation and new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy have raised a question on the SAP countries' European perspective. Is it a time for substantially new phase of the Stabilization and Association Process offering to the region clear perspective in the reformed EU and supporting its faster adjustment to the new trends within the EU.

Slovenian Presidency is coming in the moment that is important both for the EU and the SAP countries and could significantly contribute to define the perspective of the region in its full complexity.

The region has already shown its commitment to align with the EU policies in various fields, such as free trade, energy, infrastructure, information society, fight against organized crime and corruption, employment and labour market, social policy, education and research, etc. Countries of the region have shown their maturity and ability to create new structures and define future cooperation priorities during the transformation of the Stability Pact for SEE into more regionally owned Regional Cooperation Council. That was a clear sign that the Western Balkan region is prepared for the new phase of cooperation and European integration.

The proposals for new SAP agenda is linked to the four main aspects of the EU development in which inclusion of the Western Balkans in appropriate way is necessary and rational:

• Institutional and political aspect – Reform Treaty and its effect on the enlargement process; legally binding Charter of the European Union on Fundamental Rights and its implications for political and legal systems in the countries of the region; strengthening the role of parliaments and establishing new forms of cooperation with the European Parliament and parliaments in EU member states; enhanced political dialogue and cooperation in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy (EU-Western Balkans political forum could be extended on issues like economic and social development, environment);
• Growth and Employment – Lisbon Strategy as a development perspective for the Western Balkans; to elaborate the relevance of the Lisbon Agenda for the advancement of the reforms in the SAP countries (Lisbon program, Integrated guidelines for growth and employment); EU could call SAP countries to design national integrated development programs taking into account Lisbon Agenda objectives, including operational action plans and effective implementing mechanisms; EU is expected to give strong support to knowledge and innovation development in the region (education and training, faster transfer of the scientific and research results into innovation strengthening competitiveness, etc).
• European Union and Globalisation – how SAP region could contribute to the enhanced role of Europe in global world; what are the issues of mutual interest for EU and region – security, energy, transport, environment, climate change, etc.
• Security, Freedom, Justice – SAP countries should be strongly supported in their efforts to reach the EU standards and fulfil conditions for the full integration in these areas; restrictive measures regarding visa and migration policies will not protect the European Union countries in the long-term; visa liberalization will have a multiplying effect in many aspects such as democracy development, adoption of the European values and standards, acquiring new knowledge and solutions needed for reform implementation, respect for others, decrease of nationalism, etc.

Particular stress has to be put on strengthening the role of civil society in the countries of the region. Active participation of the civil society in the reform processes as a partner with government structures as well as intensified dialogue with EU would guarantee faster and more efficient reforms and European integration.

The role of IMO in this project is organisation of national workshop and the conference on Lisbon Agenda and its' role for the SAP region. The reason for focusing on this topics is the fact that the key priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency include growth and jobs, in line with renewed Lisbon Strategy as well as affirmation of the European perspective for the SEE countries. The Lisbon Strategy - related themes are of importance for the reform agenda in the SEE countries, which is a momentum to be used for the advancement of the integration at the top of the EU and regional agendas. The aim of the international conference Lisbon Agenda and South East Europe is to launch debate on: how do countries of the South East Europe perceive their potential for growth and jobs and what does the extension of the Lisbon Strategy mean for the South Eastern European countries. The discussion should focus on human capital development and the labour market. The conference should also serve as a starting point for further discussion of reform agendas in the region and their importance for growth and development in the SEE, from the point of view clearer EU perspective of SEE countries.

The members of the network are the following institutions:

• Center for Institutional Development, CIRa, Skopje,
• European Movement in Montenegro, Podgorica,
• Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo,
• Institute of International Relations, Zagreb,
• Albanian Institute for International Studies, Tirana,
• European Movement in Serbia, Belgrade and
• Kosovo Institute for Policy Research and Development, Pristina.