Cross-Border Cooperation in South Eastern Europe

Information note prepared by the REReP Task Force Secretariat for the 6th Task Force meeting in Brussels, November 7, 2003.

Introduction

REReP projects of a cross-border nature establish dialogue among the countries of South Eastern Europe (SEE). This note outlines existing REReP cross-border projects and their results, summarises the signed and negotiated memoranda of understanding, and other cooperation agreements within the region. The added value of achieving environmental cooperation with neighbouring has led the call for establishing more cross-border projects under REReP in the future. It has to be added here that countries often need financial assistance to decide on modes of cross border cooperation and the means to facilitate it. Also underlined here is the fact that SEE countries are parties to numerous multilateral environmental agreements calling for regional cooperation — an example of which is the Sava River Basin Initiative.

Formal Instruments and Sites of Cross-Border Cooperation

At this note was being prepared the REReP Task Force Secretariat had the following information on formal instruments for cross-border cooperation.

Albania has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Republic of Montenegro, a memorandum of understanding with FYR Macedonia is being drafted, and there are plans to sign such an agreement with Croatia. Bulgaria has signed an agreement on a joint environmental monitoring system with Romania. Croatia has signed a memorandum of understanding with Serbia and Montenegro, and there are plans to sign similar agreements with Albania and FYR Macedonia..

There are plans to sign a memorandum of understanding concerning REReP’s Drina River project. Another possible site for future cross-border cooperation is Transpark — established by one of the REReP projects covering Djerdap National Park (Republic of Serbia) and Iron Gates National Park (Romania). Kosovo (territory currently under UN interim administration) and Albania have ministerial plans to initiate cooperative management of neighbouring National Parks “Sharri” and “Bjeshket e Nemuna.”

One of the best ongoing examples of cross-border cooperation are the joint activities of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro to protect shared natural resources in Neretva River Delta, Skadar Lake and West Stara Planina. These activities led to improved protection of biodiversity in these sites, improved information on biodiversity and public participation in their management. They also contributed to raising public awareness on the sites’ importance. The project has also contributed to environmental education in local schools. In addition, a rural-tourism strategy has been drafted for the Neretva River Delta. Albania and Montenegro signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate cooperation on the project.

Cooperation detailed in the Transpark project included the identification of common problems of biodiversity protection in Serbian and Romanian National Parks, the creation of biodiversity inventories measuring human impact on both parks, and assigning staff to maintain communication and further exchanges of information. The project aims to establish a common administration management system and transboundary biosphere reserve.

The Drina River project aims to achieve peaceful and constructive cooperation at the municipal level between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro in designing a solution to prevent waste accumulation in Lake Peruac and Drina River.

3. Conclusion

The promotion of regional cooperation, including cross-border initiatives, is at the heart of REReP. The assistance provided for all REReP priority areas is implemented through regional dialogue. However, support to selected, targeted cross-border activities are vital for environment protection in SEE. The capacities of environmental institutions in the region and environmental civil society have grown since the launch of REReP. It is believed that the number of cross-border projects will also grow in the coming years.