Members: The REReP Task Force consists of Ministries of Environment from Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Macedonia, the State Union Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo (territory currently under interim UN administration) - observed by representatives of donor countries, international organizations, institutions and NGOs. Secretariat: The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) will provide the Secretariat for the REReP Task Force. Objectives: The RERePTask Force’s main objective is to facilitate the implementation of the priority policy components of the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Program (REReP) for South Eastern Europe. In particular: Institutional strengthening and policy development Environmental civil society building Emergency assistance for combating war damage Reinforcement of existing cooperative mechanisms and structures and development of regional cross-border projects Support to priority national and local environmental projects The priority areas were revised and agreed to in Sarajevo on September 7, 2001 at the 3rd Task Force meeting and included in the document on revised REReP mechanism: institutional building; supporting environmental civil society; supporting environmental regional cooperation mechanisms and crossborder projects; and reducing environmental health threats and loss of biodiversity. The REReP Task Force should encourage, in a spirit of partnership, coherent, complementary efforts by South Eastern European countries, Western countries, international institutions and the independent sectors, while making the best use of scarce resources. The REReP Task Force, in pursuing the priority work recommended in the REReP, will work within the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe to facilitate investments coordinated through the Stability Pact framework. Work Program To achieve these objectives, the Task Force will develop and implement a work program, with clear priorities, designed to yield practical results. Activities should aim: to assist the South Eastern European countries to cooperatively identify and address regional, transboundary, environmental priorities, as well as national priorities, in partnership with the public and the independent sector; to facilitate integration of environmental considerations into the process of economic reconstruction in order to promote stability and long-term sustainable development; in particular in sectors having a significant impact on the environment and human health (e.g. industry, transport and agriculture, in partnership with the public, and the independent sectors); to support regional, national and local project preparation and investments bodies, in particular their capacity to plan, assess and implement projects and to mobilize the required resources; to facilitate the transfer of technology and information from the current EU Candidate Countries of Central and Eastern Europe to the countries of South Eastern Europe; to assist the South Eastern European countries to effectively strengthen environmental institutions and to build capacity for environmental policy development; to provide assistance to the development of a viable civil society throughout South Eastern Europe; to provide guidance and support for environmental education and training; to establish effective communications and information dissemination networks among partners; to provide a forum for implementing the REReP. Methods of Work In carrying out its work, the REReP Task Force should: work to quickly develop the REReP and mechanisms for its effective implementation in South Eastern Europe within the framework of the Stability Pact; facilitate the cooperation between the South Eastern European countries as well as the coordination among international donors to devise and undertake cross-boundary environmental projects and management regimes in the South Eastern European region within the framework of the Stability Pact; operate under a co-chairmanship made up of the European Commission and one SEE country, which will be designated by mutual agreement of the Task Force members and will rotate on a yearly basis; hold meetings of the REReP Task Force at least once a year; collect, process and disseminate information regarding the implementation of the REReP; provide the Stability Pact member countries and international donors with project recommendations; facilitate the cooperation between the public, private and independent sectors in South Eastern European countries and Western countries, including twinning arrangements between countries, regions, municipalities and organizations; engage, as partners, relevant parts of the independent sectors in its work.

Contact the REReP Task Force Secretariat