Participation in regional initiatives

Central European Initiative (CEI)

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is the oldest regional initiative in area of Central and South East Europe. It was established in 1989. and today counts 18 member states: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldavia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia and Ukraine. Main CEI goals are improvement of cooperation between states of Central, Eastern and South East Europe, providing help to member states in their transition towards stabile democratic and market economy, as well as assisting to candidate countries in preparatory processes for EU membership.

Annual presiding of CEI (from January 1^st until December 31^st) is carrying out on rotate basis, in English alphabetic order of member states’ names.

Montenegro presided over Initiative during 2020 and it continues to preside in 2021 as well. Because of extraordinary circumstances caused by pandemic of corona virus and impossibility to hold larger number of ordinary meetings, while having in mind qualitative programme, responsible and innovative approach to presidency, Montenegro will preside two years in a row, that is also precedent from establishing the Initiative.

CEI official site: http://www.ceinet.org/

South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP)

The South-East European Cooperation Process is regional cooperation framework established in June 1996, with aim to promote and strengthen of good neighbour relations among countries of South East Europe.  Member states of SEECP are:  Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Moldavia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkey and Kosovo. Montenegro became member of the Initiative in May 11^th 2007.

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) represent executive body of SEECP formed by transformation of the Stability Pact of South Eastern Europe, based in Sarajevo. RCC places its activities on economic and social development, infrastructure and energy, justice and internal affairs, security cooperation, building of human potentials and parliamentary cooperation.

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)

The Regional Cooperation Council has been established in February 27^th 2008, by decision of SEECP member states and EU on transformation of the Stability Pact of South East Europe, formerly initiative of EU for prevention of conflicts and building of trust in this Region, to mechanism of “regional ownership”. RCC has 46 members: member countries of SEECP, European Commission, donator states, international organisations and international financial institutions.

RCC Secretariat is based in Sarajevo, and RCC Liaison office in Brussel. RCC acts as operative body of SEECP, with principal aim to promote and strengthen regional cooperation in SEE and provide support to the countries on their European and Euro Atlantic integration path. Basic role is to assist activities of SECCP, represent region and monitor its activities, cooperate with other regional mechanisms, and primarily to collect and coordinate projects of regional character while finding donators for their implementation. Special attention is focused on Berlin process, Western Balkan 6, programme of Common Regional Market (CRM), resulted from Multi-annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA). RCC implement activities through five main areas of joint cooperation: competition, development of human capital, digital transformation, justice and internal affairs and protection of environment.

RCC official site: https://www.rcc.int/

Western Balkan Fund (WBF) 

The Western Balkan Fund (WBF) was created by reputation and with support of International Visegrad fund and Visegrad group countries, that initiated idea of creation of project-oriented mechanism on Western Balkan in 2012. Declaration on Establishing WBF, with residence in Tirana, together with Agreement on Establishment of the Fund has been adopted and signed at joint meetings of head of diplomacies of V4 and Western Balkan in 2014 and 2015. WBF is officially inaugurated on September 5^th 2017 in Bled. This day has been commemorated as WBF day. WBF counts six countries: Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. Fund is in so-called “regional ownership” and represents first mechanism originated on basis of agreement among ministers of foreign affairs. Mission of the Fund is development of more intensive cooperation among Western Balkans’ countries and facilitating integration process through project activities in areas of cultural cooperation, scientific exchange, research, education, sustainable development and youth topics. Seat of Secretariat is in Tirana. Montenegro presided over WBF in period from January to December 2020.

WBF official site: http://westernbalkansfund.org/

Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (AII) 

The Adriatic – Ionian Initiative (AII) has been established in 2000 in Ancona and it consists from 10 members: four members of EU – Greece, Croatia, Italy and Slovenia, five countries of region – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Republic of San Marino. AII activities are oriented towards improvement of cooperation in Adriatic – Ionian region and encouragement of European integration process of AII members that are not part of EU, particularly through participation in implementation of EU Strategy for Adriatic – Ionian region (EUSAIR). AII activities have been implemented in five different areas over round tables: 1) transport and energy connectivity, 2) sustainable tourism and culture, 3) inter-university cooperation, 4) civil protection and environment protection and 5) blue grow/maritime cooperation. Ministries in charge for specific topics participate at the meetings. AII Permanent Secretariat has been established in 2008 in Ancona, and it coordinates all activities of the Initiative while supporting member states in project implementation. Montenegro is member of AII from June 1^st 2007 and so far, has presided the Initiative two times (2010-2011 and 2018-2019).

AII official site: https://www.adriatic-ionian.eu/

Visegrad Group (V4)

The Visegrad Group (V4) is alliance of four Middle – European countries: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Czech Republic. The Organisation has been established in 1991 by governments of Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland, in Hungarian city of Visegrad, aimed at cooperation of three countries (after dissolution of Czechoslovakia - four) on approaching path to EU. From their entrance in EU in 2004, activities have been directed to strengthening of stability of Central Europe region through cooperation with European and Trans-Atlantic institutions, regional structures and countries particularly. The work of Organisation is specifically oriented towards promotion of values in areas of culture, education, science and information exchange. One of priorities of the V4 agenda is cooperation with Western Balkan, through support to the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of this region. Current projects are implemented in areas of culture, environment protection, internal security, defence, science and education, while planning strengthening cooperation in areas of justice, transport, tourism and informative technologies.

V4 official site: https://www.visegradgroup.eu/

Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)

The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is regional interstate organisation established by prime ministers of six Western Balkans’ government (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro), in July 4^th 2016 in Paris, at the Summit on Western Balkan. RYCO activities are supported from very start by French and German governments, while organisation cooperate with international and regional organisations, such as UN and specialized agencies - UNPBF, UNICEF and UNDP in the region, then OSCE (missions in region), GIZ, AFD, EU and many others regional foundations and organisations. RYCO mission is reflected in support to the initiatives that promote reconciliation, regional mobility and cooperation, participation in social and political life, while seeking towards overall strengthening of regional ties, as well as contribution to the all reform processes within European integration process. Organisation has been formed following the example of the French – German Youth Office. RYCO generates goals through programmes of financial support for intercultural exchange projects and youth connectivity, as well as programmes for building capacities, regarding young people in their progress as active social factors, so as key aiming groups that can apply and realise grants within RYCO programme (non-government organisations and high schools). Institution in charge for RYCO activities in Montenegro is Youth Administration Office.

RYCO official site: https://www.rycowb.org/

Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA)

The Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) is international interstate organisation that acts as innovative regional hub for policy research, exchange of knowledge and networking in area of public administration. As such, ReSPA is established with aim to create responsible, effective and professional systems of public administration for Western Balkan. On the initiative of European Commission, Western Balkans’ countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) signed Protocol on Establishment of ReSPA in Brussel, on May 2^nd 2006. Today, ReSPA members are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, while Kosovo is beneficiary. Main goals of the ReSPA Protocol are: improvement of regional cooperation in the area of public administration, strengthening of administrative capacities on the European Integration path and development of human resources in accordance with European administrative domain. Seat of ReSPA is in Danilovgrad.

ReSPA official site: https://www.respaweb.eu/

Center for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC)

The Center for Security Cooperation (RACVIAC) was established in 2000 by Croatia and Germany under the name „Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre“, with an aim to provide arms control training, security building measures, promote confidence and cooperation in South Eeastern Europe. Today, RACVIAC is an international, independent, non-profit and regional-owned academic organization with the primary goal of promoting dialogue and cooperation on security issues in the countries of South Eastern Europe through partnerships between the countries of the region and with their international partners. The strategic goals of RACVIAC are strengthening regional stability and security in South Eastern Europe; improving results through arms control mechanisms and security building; promoting security sector reforms and encouraging regional cooperation in the field of defense system conversion; support for regional cooperation in the field of effective fight against terrorism, smuggling of weapons of mass destruction, organized crime and all forms of trafficking in human beings, narcotics; support for European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

The Multinational Advisory Group (MAG) is the main body of RACVIAC for making political and financial decisions and guidelines for future action.

RACVIAC official website: https://www.racviac.org/

South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN)

The South Eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) is an intergovernmental forum for regional operation in the fields of health, the health system and public health. It was founded in 2001 in Sofia, with the support of the World Health Organization for Europe, within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. The WHO provided technical support to the initiative until 2009, together with the Council of Europe. SEEHN has been regionally owned under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council since 2010.

The member countries are: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel, Northern Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia, plus two partner countries: Slovenia and Croatia. SEEHN receives ongoing political, technical and financial support from a large number of donors (Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Council of Europe). SEEHN activities focused on project cooperation, long-term health development programs, and the establishment of 10 regional health development centers.

The SEEHN presidency is on a rotating basis, every 6 months, in alphabetical order. Montenegro presided over the network in the period June 2019-June 2020.

SEEHN official website: http://seehn.org/

Regional Initiative for Migration, Asylum and Refugees (MARRI)

The Regional Initiative for Migration, Asylum and Refugees (MARRI) was founded in 2004 under the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (SEECP), by merging the Regional Return Initiative (RRI) and the Migration and Asylum Initiative (MAI), with donor support from the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Norway. The aim was to support the managing of the migration process resulting from the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, as part of the stabilization policy and accession of the region. The initiative consisted of six participating countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.

The main mission of MARRI is to support participants in harmonizing national legislation with EU standards, institution building, capacity building through training of officials and exchanging information. Areas of cooperation covered by the initiatives are: migration, asylum, readmission, integrated border management, visa policy and consular protection, return of displaced persons and refugees. The mandate of the initiative has been extended to the area of the fight against human trafficking since 2019, which represents the accompanying phenomena of migratory flows.

The main goal of MARRI is to contribute to the controlled and free movement of people, in the interest of security and prosperity of the region. The presidency of MARRI rotates on an annual basis. In the period June 2019 - June 2020, Kosovo chaired. Montenegro took over the presidency at the Forum of Ministers on June 30, 2020, which held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

MARRI official website: http://marri-rc.org.mk/