1. Regional Cooperation Council Nand Shani Economic and Social Development Unit Nand.shani@rcc.int

2. Why Regional Cooperation? An important mechanism contributing to the lasting stabilization of South East Europe and its faster integration into the EU and NATO. The RCC addresses the two key dimensions of regional cooperation: the political and the project/program- oriented

3. Who We Are The RCC is an inter-governmental framework which serves as the operational arm of the South-Eastern Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP). The RCC has 46 members, including individual countries, international organizations and international financial institutions. What We Do Facilitating regional cooperation in South East Europe Helping to accelerate reforms in the region Supporting the delivery of commitments with regard to European and Euro-Atlantic integration Encouraging the EU and international community to engage in the region; promoting donor involvement and coordination.

4. Priority Areas Economic and social development Energy and infrastructure Justice and home affairs Security cooperation Building human capital Parliamentary cooperation (as an overarching theme) Three additional cross-cutting issues include gender mainstreaming, social cohesion and civil society.

5. Achievements in 2008: Completed transition process from the Stability Pact for SEE to RCC; Opening of the RCC Liaison Office in Brussels and nomination of the Special Envoy for relations with the Presidency of the European Council; Political consultations with RCC members; RCC presentations held in the SEE capitals; Mapping of national priorities regarding regional cooperation in SEE; Coordination and streamlining of SEE regional initiatives and structures; Initiated networking process among RCC Secretariat, members from SEE, EC and IFIs (including Multi- beneficiary IPA and IFIAG); Preparation of the Project Portfolio of the RCC; Cooperation with other regional organizations and initiatives (CEI, BSEC, AII, Danube Cooperation Process).

6. Economic and Social Development Unit at RCC The Economic and Social Development Unit of the RCC supports regional economic development initiatives, while advocating the inclusion of social partners in economic policy dialogue. It seeks to promote an awareness of the principles of quality of work and life. Sustained economic development is only possible where accompanied by adequate social policy.

7. Key Issues Economic Development Investment Facilitation SME Development Free Trade Social Development Labor and Employment Policy Social Dialogue Public Health + Development of Information and Communication Technology

8. 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 of high level officials (Employment Network) to monitor and supervise implementation of Bucharest Process 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. 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

9. Employment One of the most negative impacts of the transition process lies in high unemployment - How to ensure job rich economic growth? High informal economy Active labor market policies: objectives and financing Passive labor market policies: Unemployment benefit system Vulnerable groups

10. Employment Cannot attract investment geared to exploiting low-wage based exports. Productivity improvement critical to outgrow the relatively high wages - trade and technological improvements An agreement on movement of skilled labor: Regional labor market Mutual recognition of professional qualifications and educational institutions Temporary worker agreements Return migration programs can help in skill formation

11. 11 The Bucharest Process: Achievements  Three ministerial conferences set the framework for cooperation and emphasize the political importance of addressing the employment challenges facing SEE  Regular meetings of high level officials to monitor and supervise implementation of Bucharest Process and to discuss peer reviews of employment policies conducted by participating countries  Employment policies of 7 countries reviewed and priority recommandations under implementation (CREPs)  Establishment of the Center of Public Employment Services of Southeast Europe  Strengthened capacity of MoL, PES and the social partners to formulate and implement employment policies  Fostered tripartite dialogue on employment policy at national level  Introduced gender equality concerns in employment policies and in the operations of PES  Developed national profiles on occupational safety and health

12. 12 Challenges Ahead  Keep employment policy as a political priority at both national and regional levels  Continue national implementation of priority recommendations on employment policy  Sustainability of the permanent network for knowledge sharing and mutual learning at regional level  Strengthen capacity to design, monitor and evaluate employment policies  Maintain open method of coordination through peer reviews on employment policy  Develop joint projects and initiatives  Mobilization of human and financial resources to continue work that was under the Bucharest Process and Stability Pact  Better links and coordination between employment and other economic and social policies

13. Social dialogue  Relevance in times of economic downturn  Road ahead from the RCC perspective  Structures, capacities, attitudes  Bipartite meeting to prepare joint recommendations to tackle crisis and RCC to facilitate the discussions with the governments.  Regional meetings

14. Planned Activities Social Development Support to implementation of Bucharest Employment Process: Regional Employment Network Secretariat, Center of Public Employment Services of SEE Promotion of regional social dialogue mechanism + strengthening capacities of social partners Support to regional ownership of SEE Health Network + transformation of regional projects into sustainable long term programs

15. Benefits of integration and beyond Economic growth as well as new and better jobs Increased competitiveness through healthy competition Renewed relations between the countries of former Yugoslavia and the wider region Good preparation and adjustment for full EU membership

16. THANK YOU