Draft 105.009-08
CEI - Executive Secretariat
Committee of National Co-ordinators
Trieste, 10 March 2008
Executive Summary
Decisions / adoption of documents / issues under review
The minutes of the CNC meeting in Chisinau were adopted
The dates of the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the CEI Summit of the Heads of Government
are 27 and 28 November, respectively. The Presidency should communicate to the CEI-PS the decision of the
Moldovan Government on the exact dates of the SEF as soon as possible. The Presidency should also check the
availability of Minister Igor Dodon for a working visit to Trieste in April in order to discuss and agree on such
organisational aspects of the event as financing, session content, logistics, etc. The CEI-ES will update the CEI
Calendar of Events accordingly and will forward the updated version to the CNC as soon as possible
Romania will come up with its final decision on the possibility to take over the CEI Presidency in 2009 at a later
date. The CNC will be informed in due time
The process of appointment of Focal Points is in its final stage in the majority of countries. The countries that
have not yet forwarded their lists of Focal Points to the CEI-ES should do so at the earliest possible time
The CEI-ES has further redrafted the CEI Plan of Action 2007-2008 on the basis of the comments and
suggestions proposed during the meeting. The CEI-ES will circulate this updated version to the NCs and the
Focal Points as soon as possible
The CNC will continue the discussion on the modalities foreseen for gradually improving their financial
contribution to the Operational Activities at the future meetings as well. The CEI-ES will prepare a draft text
regarding a possible 20% increase of the annual contributions to the CEI Co-operation Fund. This draft will be
submitted to the Vienna meeting, when the countries, after preliminary consultations in their capitals, should
express their positions. The Member States wishing to voluntary contribute to other operational activities could
do so, by earmarking their contributions in a specific context, e.g. University Network, the Science and
Technology Network, the Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection, the KEP
On the basis of the proposal of the Czech Republic, the CEI-ES will redraft the Terms of Reference and the
Rules of Procedure of the CEI Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection. The CNC will be duly
informed on the outcome of the Austrian efforts in obtaining the ODA eligibility at the OECD/DAC
The Presidency will start a written procedure for the CEI Heads of Government with the aim to change the
wording of the CEI Guidelines and Rules of Procedure, in conformity with the decision taken by the CNC on the
change of the titles of the Executive Level of the CEI Executive Secretariat from Director General, Alternate
Director General and Deputy Director General to Secretary General, Alternate Secretary General and Deputy
Secretary General
The discussion on the renewal of the mandate of the CEI-ES Deputy Director General, Mr. Mykola Melenevskyi,
was postponed to a later date, when the MFA of Ukraine will send a Note Verbale to the MFAs of all CEI Member
States regarding its interest to re-nominate Mr. Melenevskyi for the above-mentioned position
The CEI-ES will forward to the NCs the documentation containing the criteria of the call for proposals on the CEI
Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism
Since no specific objection was raised about the proposed formulation of article 5A of the Rules for Allocation of
Resources, the new wording is considered as approved. The CEI-ES will elaborate possible re-formulations of
the other sections of the document taking into consideration the comments during the discussion
Upon the request of Macedonia, the CEI-PS will make every effort with the organizers of the KEP Project “7th
Ukrainian School of Self-Governance” to involve also Macedonian representatives in this project
Upon the request of Member States the CEI-ES could circulate more information on the projects in the
framework of the Secretariat for EU Projects and the Corridor 5 Secretariat, within the CEI-ES
The CEI-ES will inform the CNC on the results of the meeting between the CEI-ES and the CEI Presidency with
the EC
Allocation of funds/CEI Cooperation Activities
The following Cooperation Activities were approved:
Youth Organizing Institute 2008 – Italy (10.000 €)
International Training “Methods of municipal waste management. Best practices in the CEI countries” – Belarus
(6.000 €)
International Youth Seminar “Youth Combating Terrorism and Extremism by Promoting Intercultural Dialogue,
Inter-Religious Co-Operation and Respect for Cultural Differences” – Bulgaria (4.500 €)
CEI Journalists´ Forum 2008 – Poland (12.000 €)
The KEP application “7th Ukrainian School of Self-Governance” (36.085 €) was also approved.
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Draft 105.009-08
CEI - Executive Secretariat
Committee of National Co-ordinators
Trieste, 10 March 2008
Draft Minutes
1. The CNC meeting was held in Trieste on 10 March 2007 at the CEI Headquarters. The meeting was
chaired by Mr. Dumitru Tira, NC of Moldova, and was attended by delegations from all CEI Member
States, except Belarus and Croatia. The meeting was also attended by the CEI-ES Director General, the
CEI-ES Deputy Director General and by the Head of the Secretariat for CEI Projects. The list of
participants is attached here-to as Annex 1.
2. Adoption of the Agenda
Discussion
Several Member States expressed concern whether the CEI, and particularly the CNC, was the right
forum to discuss the Kosovo issue. Consequently, the Presidency asked for a consensus from the Member
States whether to keep the Agenda item 3, i.e. Consequences of the Situation on Kosovo, to postpone it
or to delete it completely from the Agenda of the CNC meeting and leave it to the higher-level. However,
other Member States, stressed that such a development in the region was important and could not be
bypassed unobserved from none of the regional forums, including the CEI, at all levels. After this
observation the CNC decided to keep this item on the Agenda, and thus leave an opportunity to the
countries to express their official positions on this issue. Then the agenda of the meeting was adopted.
Conclusions
The Agenda of the meeting was adopted.
3. Adoption of the Draft Minutes of the CNC Meeting in Chisinau (31 January 2008)
Documentation
Draft Minutes of the CNC Chisinau (Ref. No. 105.007-08)
Conclusion
The Minutes of the CNC Meeting in Chisinau were adopted.
4. Consequences of the Situation on Kosovo
Discussion
The Member States informed in a tour-de-table the official position of their countries on the recognition of
the proclamation of independence of Kosovo from the Republic of Serbia. While several Member States
recognized it (Albania, Austria, Italy, Poland and Slovenia), for the other countries this issue was still
under consideration. Serbia does not recognize this independence.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
5. Preparation of the High-level Meetings during the Moldovan CEI Presidency 2008
Discussion
The Presidency presented to the CNC the Calendar of Events for the year 2008 drawing the attention of
the CNC to the dates of the high-level meetings. In this context, the Presidency announced the dates of
the traditional high-level meetings, i.e. the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to take place on 27
November, followed by the CEI Summit of the Heads of Government on 28 November. A possibility of
organizing a concert of the CEI Youth Orchestra on the occasion of the CEI Summit will be taken into
consideration.
In addition to these meetings the Presidency announced a number of other high-level meetings on the
agenda of the Moldovan CEI Presidency, i.e. a meeting of Ministers of Transport to be held on 2-3 July
and two High Level Meetings, one on Agriculture and one on Tourism, both to be held most probably in
October. Several other planned conferences and expert meetings in the areas of energy, science,
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tourism, etc. were mentioned. Some of the meetings will be organized in a close collaboration with other
regional bodies, such as the SEECP/RCC, the CEFTA, etc.
The Presidency also informed the CNC on the preparation of the 11th Summit Economic Forum (SEF) and
the Youth Forum. With regard to the dates of the SEF reported on the Calendar presented by the
Presidency, i.e. 24-25 November, the Presidency informed that they still need to be confirmed. In this
context, the Head of the CEI-PS noted that he received a letter from the Minister of Economy of Moldova,
Minister Igor Dodon, in which he informed him about the decision of the Ministry of Economy and Trade
of the Republic of Moldova that the dates for this year’s SEF will be 8-10 October 2008. Therefore, the
Head of the CEI-PS, while underlining the long preparations necessary for the organization of the SEF,
requested the Presidency to clarify with the Ministry of Economy and Trade the exact dates of the SEF, so
that the CEI-PS could proceed with its preparation. Moreover, the Head of the CEI-PS referred to his visit
to Moldova in Chisinau last February, when it was agreed that a proper preparation of the event would
require a working visit of the Moldovan delegation to Trieste, headed by the Minister Dodon, with the aim
to discuss and agree on various organisational aspects of the event such as financing, session content,
logistics, etc., and asked the Presidency to check the availability of Minister Dodon for such a meeting at
any time in April. This was important since an early agreement on these issues was necessary, so that
the Head of the CEI-PS could present to the CNC meeting in Vienna the Financial Report 2007 of the CEI-
PS, including the budget for 2008, as well as a preliminary documentation related to the SEF.
Conclusions
The dates of the Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the CEI Summit of the Heads of
Government are 27 and 28 November, respectively. The Presidency should communicate the decision of
the Moldovan Government on the exact dates of the SEF as soon as possible. The Presidency should also
check the availability of Minister Igor Dodon for a working visit to Trieste in April in order to discuss and
agree on such organisational aspects of the event as financing, session content, logistics, etc. The CEI-ES
will update the CEI Calendar of Events accordingly and will forward this updated version to the CNC as
soon as possible.
6. Preparation of the CEI Summit Economic Forum 2008
Conclusions
Since this issue was discussed under the previous Agenda item, no further discussion took place.
7. CEI Presidency 2009
Discussion
Montenegro informed the CNC that after an estimation of the overall capacities of the Montenegrin
institutional framework, it came to a conclusion that it was still premature for it to exercise the role of
CEI Presidency in 2009. In this context, Montenegro informed that negotiations with Romania, as a
possible candidate for the next year’s CEI Presidency, were underway.
Romania informed the CNC that it was positively evaluating this request. However, in order to come
forward with a decision on this issue, Romania outlined that it will take some time, since the Romanian
Government had to evaluate this issue in substance, which, for the time being was not feasible, due to its
active role in a number of high-level meetings to take place in Romania in the course of this year.
Nevertheless, the CNC will be informed on the final decision in due time.
Conclusions
Romania will come up with its final decision on the possibility to take over the CEI Presidency in 2009 at
a later date. The CNC will be informed in due time.
8. Process of the Repositioning of the CEI
8.1. Appointment of Focal Points
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the participants that so far Moldova, the Czech Republic, Romania,
Austria, Poland and Hungary have forwarded to the CEI-ES the lists of Focal Points from their countries
and appealed the other countries to do the same in the shortest possible time, highlighting that this was
important due to the fact that the CEI Co-operation Activities, which should reach the Secretariat by the
deadline of 1 April 2008, had to be evaluated in a continuous manner. In this regard, the Presidency
opened a tour-de table in which all the countries briefed on the progress in the appointment of Focal
Points. Most of the countries informed that the lists were in their final stage of completion and that they
will be forwarded to the CEI-ES soon. Moreover, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia have circulated
their lists of Focal Point to the CEI-ES during the meeting.
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Conclusions
The process of appointment of Focal Points was in its final stage in the majority of countries. The
countries that have not yet forwarded their lists of Focal Points to the CEI-ES should do so at the earliest
possible time.
8.2. CEI Plan of Action 2007-2009
Documentation
CEI Plan of Action 2007-2009 – Revised (Ref. No. 502.003-06)
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the participants that the CEI Plan of Action 2007-2009 was
updated, in conformity with the Decision taken by Heads of Government at their meeting in Sofia, with
regard to the CEI areas of activity. He noted that this redrafted version was structured in three clusters,
i.e. economic development, human development and, as horizontal instrument, Interregional and Cross-
Border Cooperation. The cluster of economic development is composed of: Sustainable Agriculture,
Sustainable Energy, Climate and Environment, Enterprise Development, Tourism and Multimodal
Transport. The cluster on human development contains: Intercultural Cooperation, Minorities, Human
Resource Development, Information Society, Media and Science & Technology. As to the core issues
within the retained areas, the CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that they remained the same.
Furthermore, the CEI-ES Director General pointed out that the phrase from the decision of the Heads of
Government, reading as follow: “Activities of the CEI can also take place in other areas provided there is
clear evidence of an interest among Member States and substantial support by them”, was added into the
introductory part, with the aim to encourage comprehensive applications in other areas, such as
Migration, Civil Protection, Combating Organized Crime, Youth Affairs etc. With regard to the latter,
Bulgaria, supported by the Czech Republic, suggested to reinsert the Youth Affairs as a sub-area of
Human Resource Development and Training or Intercultural Cooperation, underlining that there were a
number of important issues dealt with in this field, e.g. the Youth Forum, and therefore, an institutional
link was necessary. Bulgaria also suggested some minor linguistic and spelling corrections, and requested
the CEI-ES to add a reference to the decision of the Heads of Government in Sofia on redrafting the CEI
Plan of Action, in order to render it fully compatible with the Decisions on the Repositioning of the CEI.
These suggestions were accepted and introduced accordingly in the redrafted version of the CEI Plan of
Action. The CEI-ES will circulate this redrafted version to the National Coordinators and the Focal Points
as soon as possible.
Conclusions
The CEI-ES has further redrafted the CEI Plan of Action 2007-2008 on the basis of the comments and
suggestions proposed during the meeting. The CEI-ES will circulate this updated version to the NCs and
the Focal Points as soon as possible.
8.3. Financial Resources of the CEI for Operational Activities
Documentation
Overview of the CEI Operational Activities (Ref. No. 1200.001-08)
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General presented to the CNC to the extended overview on the purpose, the funds
and the use of the CEI operational activities, drawing the following conclusions:
More than 60% of the allocations to the CEI Co-operation Activities came from Italy;
The amounts used to finance the KEP, the two Networks (University and Science &
Technology Network) and other special events were fully provided by Italy;
The Trust Fund at the EBRD was fully provided by Italy.
The CEI-ES Director General noted that in order to remedy this situation rather unusual for a forum with
18 Member States, the countries should think of the modalities foreseen for gradually improving their
financial contribution, and thus be in line with the decision of the Heads of Government regarding the
financial requirements for CEI Operational Activities. In this regard, while welcoming the contributions
made by the Czech Republic and Austria to the CEI Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection
and KEP, respectively, the CEI-ES Director General explained that, similar to these two countries the
other countries could choose where to make their contributions, e.g. to those operational activities that
were in demand, that is to say, the Cooperation Fund, the University Network, the Science & Technology
Network, and the KEP. Moreover, the CEI-ES Director General, proposed the following two options: 1. a
new mandatory increase of the annual contributions to the CEI Co-operation Fund, starting in 2009, to be
approved by the MFA in Chisinau, could be studied, 2. The Member States should be able to earmark
their contributions with regard to their use in a specific context (the University Network, the Science and
Technology Network and the KEP) on a voluntary basis.
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The delegations preferred the first option, i.e. a mandatory increase of the contributions to the CEI Co-
operation Fund, since they considered it easier in terms of procedure within their Ministries. Furthermore,
Poland proposed that the margin of increase could be 20%. The CEI-ES Director General welcomed this
proposal and highlighted that such an increase could give a signal on the further commitment of the MS.
Slovakia noted that the state budget of many countries, particularly those that had to meet Maastricht
criteria, and thus join the eurzone, was very constrained. Nevertheless, Slovakia still saw room for a very
limited expansion, supported by a strong documentation on the reasons for this increase. The CEI-ES will
prepare a draft text, based on the 2005 experience, regarding an increase of the annual contributions to
the CEI Co-operation Fund, starting in 2009, by 20%.
Conclusions
The CNC will continue the discussion on the modalities foreseen for gradually improving their financial
contribution to the Operational Activities at the future meetings as well. The CEI-ES will prepare a draft
text regarding a possible 20% increase of the annual contributions to the CEI Co-operation Fund. This
draft will be submitted to the Vienna meeting, when the countries, after preliminary consultations in their
capitals, should express their positions. The Member States wishing to voluntary contribute to other
operational activities could do so, by earmarking their contributions in a specific context, e.g. University
Network, the Science and Technology Network, the Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection,
the KEP.
8.4. Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection
Documentation
General Terms of Reference (Ref. No. 1212.001-08)
Draft Rules of Procedure (Ref. No. 1212.002-08)
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that the CEI-ES has prepared a first draft for the Terms of
Reference and the Rules of Procedure of the Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection. In this
context, he explained that, as outlined in the Terms of Reference, any public or private entity of a CEI
Member State may contribute to the Fund and, thus, form part of the “Committee of Donors”. In each
case, there will be separate written agreements between the CEI-ES and the donor countries specifying
the amount committed and the modalities of the use of the funds. Since the only contribution received so
far was the one from the Czech Republic, the Czech Republic represented the “Committee of Donors”.
In this regard, the Czech Republic suggested few comments on the two documents, prepared in
consultations with the Czech Ministry of Environment. With regard to the Terms of Reference, the Czech
Republic proposed the following two options: 1. In para 2 (Objective of the Fund), in conformity with the
title of the Fund, a reference to the environment protection should be included as well, or 2. if the future
activities of the Fund will be focused only on the area of climate change, the title of the Fund could be
changed as follows: CEI Special Fund for Climate Protection and Climate Change Adaptation (since some
countries in the CEI region have been already influenced by the climate change e.g. floods in Serbia,
droughts in Moldova, etc.). As to the second document, i.e. the Rules of Procedure of the Fund, the Czech
Republic proposed the following: 1. In para 2 (Use of the Fund), in conformity with the title of the Fund,
there should be a reference to the environment protection. The following activities should also be added:
sanitation of old ecological burdens, waste management, drinking water supply, water management, or
2. Para 2 (Use of the Fund) as it is now, all activities are focused only on the area of energy efficiency
and, therefore, the Czech Republic felt that, it would be useful to extend the list of activities to the area
of Climate Change Adaptation (since some countries in the CEI region have been already influenced by
the climate change) as well as to include the area of Climate Change Adaptation in the first sentence of
para 2. Since the Czech Republic thought that these two documents were basic, and therefore, all
countries should express their view, it asked the NCs to opt for one of the two proposals in both
documents. The countries considered the first option in both documents as more appropriate. The CEI-ES
will redraft the above-mentioned documents accordingly.
Then the CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that the CEI-ES submitted to Austria, who is a DAC
Member, the documents necessary for obtaining the ODA eligibility at the OECD/DAC. Austria briefed the
CNC on the progress with regard to this issue. Namely, Austria informed that in doing so it needed a
support form other DAC members. To this end, Austria has approached several countries, so that the
requested documentation will be submitted to the OECD/DAC by the end of March. In this context,
Austria informed the CNC that the OECD/DAC will take a decision on the funds to be added to the list of
ODA eligible Funds in June 2008. Austria underlined that this list was flexible and that the countries
could, anyway, bilaterally report their contributions in an ODA eligible manner.
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Conclusions
On the basis of the proposal of the Czech Republic, the CEI-ES will redraft the Terms of Reference and
the Rules of Procedure of the CEI Special Fund for Climate and Environment Protection. The CNC will be
duly informed on the outcome of the Austrian efforts in obtaining the ODA eligibility at the OECD/DAC.
9. New Titles of the Executive Level of the CEI-ES
Documentation
HoG Draft Decision on the change of titles of the CEI-ES Executive Level (Ref. No. 101.001-08)
Discussion
The Presidency informed the CNC that the CEI Heads of Government had to be informed on the recent
CNC decision to change the titles of the Executive Level of the CEI Executive Secretariat from Director
General, Alternate Director General and Deputy Director General to Secretary General, Alternate
Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General. Therefore, with the aim to make effective the use of
the new titles as soon as possible, the Presidency announced that the Moldovan Prime Minister will
initiate a written procedure.
Slovenia believed that the formal decision on the change of the titles could only be taken by the CEI
Heads of Government at their Summit in November. The CEI-ES clarified that the decision on the change
of the titles was up to the CNC, while it was up to CEI Heads of Government to change the CEI Guidelines
and Rules of Procedure accordingly. In this context, the CEI-ES explained that the decision to be put
before the HoG referred to the change of the wording of the Guidelines with respect to the new titles,
which will by no means affect the provisions of the Guidelines on the role and the functions of officials.
Then the delegations agreed that this issue should not be postponed to the CEI Summit or further
discussed and mandated the Presidency to start the written procedure.
Conclusions
The Presidency will start a written procedure for the CEI Heads of Government with the aim to change
the wording of the CEI Guidelines and Rules of Procedure, in conformity with the decision taken by the
CNC on the change of the titles of the Executive Level of the CEI Executive Secretariat from Director
General, Alternate Director General and Deputy Director General to Secretary General, Alternate
Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General.
10. Renewal of Mandate of the CEI-ES Deputy Director General from Ukraine
Documentation
Draft CNC Recommendation on the renewal of the mandate of Minister Mykola Melenevskyi, CEI-ES
DDG (Ref. No. 105.008-08)
Draft MFA decision on the renewal of the mandate of Minister Mykola Melenevskyi, CEI-ES DDG (Ref.
No. 102.001-08)
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that the first term of office of the CEI-ES DDG from
Ukraine, Mr. Mykola Melenevskyi, will expire in February 2009. In this context, he briefly presented to the
CNC the areas covered by Mr. Melenvskyi within the CEI-ES, and praised his outstanding efforts in
carrying out his activities. Furthermore, the CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that the MFA of
Ukraine, in a letter addressed to him, expressed its interest to retain the above-mentioned position for
the period of three more years. Romania and Slovenia, while appreciating the work done by Mr.
Melenevskyi, requested the CNC to postpone the discussion on the renewal of the mandate of Mr.
Melenevskyi to a later date, when the MFA of Ukraine will send a Note Verbale to the MFAs of all Member
States regarding its interest to extend his mandate. Ukraine, assured the CNC that it will send the Note
Verbale in the shortest possible time.
Conclusions
The discussion on the renewal of the mandate of the CEI-ES Deputy Director General, Mr. Mykola
Melenevskyi, was postponed to a later date, when the MFA of Ukraine will send a Note Verbale to the
MFAs of all CEI Member States regarding its interest to re-nominate Mr. Melenevskyi for the above-
mentioned position.
11. CEI Award for Investigative Journalism
Discussion
The CEI-ES informed the CNC that the CEI in cooperation with the South East European Media
Organisation (SEEMO) has launched a call for proposals on CEI Award for Outstanding Merits in
Investigative Journalism, to be handed over on the occasion of the CEI Journalists’ Forum in Wroclaw on
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2-3 June. The CEI-ES announced that the winning candidate will receive an award of 5.000 EUR.
Macedonia requested the CEI-ES to forward the whole documentation containing the criteria of the
award. Moreover, Macedonia pointed out that in the future a stronger involvement of the CNC in these
kinds of initiatives was necessary, with the aim to better evaluate whether they correspond to the overall
CEI objectives.
Conclusions
The CEI-ES will forward to the NCs the documentation containing the criteria of the call for proposals on
the CEI Award for Outstanding Merits in Investigative Journalism.
12. CEI Cooperation Fund
Documentation
Current Balance of the CEI Co-operation Fund
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the participants that so far three countries (Croatia, the Czech
Republic and Slovenia) have paid their contributions to the CEI Co-operation Fund. Montenegro and
Serbia announced that they have started the procedure and that the contributions from their respective
countries were expected to come in the following days.
Conclusions
The Member States which have not yet done so ought to make their contributions to the CEI Co-
operation Fund at the earliest possible time.
13. CEI Co-operation Activities
13.1. Rules for Allocation of Resources
Documentation
Rules for Allocation of Resources – Consolidated Draft
Discussion
The CEI-ES presented to the CNC the redrafted version of the Article 5A of the CEI Rules for Allocation of
Resources, regarding the participation in Cooperation Activities, on the basis of the comments and
suggestions made by delegations at the CNC meeting in Chisinau. Poland praised the efforts of the
Secretariat to come to a definition, which met to a great extent its basic idea for an increased regional
character of the CEI Cooperation Activities. Furthermore, the Member States did not express specific
objections as to the wording proposed.
Then the discussion moved towards other selection criteria set by the Rules. As to the observation made
by Slovakia to establish a limit for the number of participants, the CEI-ES explained that this criteria
cannot be fully incorporated into the Rules for Allocation, because the experience and state of the art
showed that the amount of the CEI contribution proposed was not only a calculation referring to the
number of participants, but referred to the respect of all the criteria set by the Rules, such as the
compatibility of the activity with the CEI Plan of Action, the evaluation by the experts, the weight of the
CEI contribution into the overall budget, as well as to the availability of funds within the Cooperation
Fund. With regard to the latter, the CEI-ES explained that due to the present situation of the CEI Co-
operation Fund, which was largely utilized, the CEI has adopted a certain strategy of reducing
contributions to reasonable amounts.
Slovenia pointed out the need of better specifying the eligible budget items to be covered by the
requested CEI contribution. In this context, Slovenia proposed to reorder the list of eligible expenses,
with a view to eliminating the indent referring to translation costs since the CEI working language, was
English. Austria noted that the system of Focal Points needed to be adapted in the Rules and requested
clarifications as to the procedure of evaluation in the transition period leading to the full establishment of
the Networks of Focal Points. The CEI-ES explained to the CNC that applications would be forwarded to
the focal points appointed so far, maintaining the entire evaluation of a proposed application within the
CEI-ES in cases where no counterpart can be identified within the new system. Some delegations
stressed the need for discussing about possible changes of the Rules of Allocation on the basis of written
proposals, while the Chair suggested that the CEI-ES prepares another draft on the basis of comments
and views expressed in Trieste.
Conclusions
Since no specific objection was raised about the proposed formulation of article 5A of the Rules for
Allocation of Resources, the new wording is considered as approved. The CEI-ES will elaborate possible
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re-formulations of the other sections of the document taking into consideration the comments during the
discussion
13.2. New Projects and Cooperation Activities for approval
Conclusions
The CNC examined the applications for funding of CEI Cooperation Activities and decided as outlined in
the chart below:
Implementa Funding
Proposing Country /
Ref. No. Cooperation Activity tion Date / Funding approved
Organisation
Location
Requested:
Center for Constitutional 5-14 July 17.920 € (27,5%)
Youth Organizing Institute
Studies and Democratic 2008, Recommended:
1202.101-07 2008 10.000 €
Development (CCSDD), Kragujevac, 10.000 € (15,4%)
(Total cost: 65.000 €)
Italy Serbia Approved by the former
WG on Youth Affairs
Republican Educational Requested:
International Training
Center for Training, 6.000 € (42,5%)
“Methods of municipal 12-16 May
Advanced Training and Recommended:
waste management. Best 2008, Minsk
1202.111-07 Retraining of Specialists 6.000 € (42,5%) 6.000 €
practices in the CEI and Gomel,
in the Field of Recommended by the
countries” Belarus
Environment Protection, CEI-ES
(Total cost: 14.200 €)
Belarus
International Youth Requested:
Seminar “Youth Combating 4.500 € (20,5%)
Terrorism and Extremism 24-30 May Recommended:
Euro-Mediterranean
by Promoting Intercultural 2008, 4.500 € (20,5%)
1202.113-07 Center for Cross Cultural 4.500 €
Dialogue, Inter-Religious Bansko, Recommended by the
Dialogue, Bulgaria
Co-Operation and Respect Bulgaria former WG on Youth
for Cultural Differences” Affairs
(Total cost: 21.900 €)
Requested:
12.000 € (15,7%)
1-4 June
CEI Journalists´ Forum Ministry of Foreign Recommended:
2008,
1202.116-07 2008 Affairs of the Republic of 12.000 € (15,7%) 12.000 €
Wroclaw,
(Total cost: 76.200 €) Poland Recommended by the
Poland
CEI-ES, CEI Feature
Event
First meeting of the Requested:
Permanent Forum of Sviluppo Marche – SVIM 52.050 € (8,6%)
Regional/Local development (Company for economic- Recommended:
agencies in the Central and territorial development April 2008, 0 € (0%) Not
1202.131-07
Eastern European Countries established by the Italy Not recommended approved
within the framework of the Marche Region), Italy
AsviLoc project
(Total cost: 604.232 €)
14. Know-how Exchange Programme (KEP) Application
Discussion
The CNC approved the application within the scope of the KEP as outlined in the table below. Macedonia
asked the CEI-PS to consider the possibility of involving also Macedonian representatives in the school,
since the issue on self-governance was of particularly importance to Macedonia. The CEI-PS assured that
it will make every effort with the organizers to involve Macedonia in this project. Then the CNC approved
the application within the scope of the KEP as outlined in the table below.
Conclusions
The following application within the scope of the KEP was approved:
Implementa
Proposing Country / Funding
Ref. No. KEP Application tion Date / Funding
Organisation approved
Location
Requested:
th June- 37.795 € (47,8%)
7 Ukrainian School of
1206.002-08 School of Leaders December Recommended:
Self-Governance 36.085 €
Budget Association, Poland 2008, Poland 36.085 € (45,7%)
(Total cost: 78.914 €)
and Ukraine Recommended by the
CEI-PS
Upon the request of Macedonia, the CEI-PS will make every effort with the organizers of the KEP Project
7th Ukrainian School of Self-Governance to involve also Macedonian representatives in this project.
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Draft 105.009-08
15. Secretariat for EU Projects
Discussion
Ms. Chiara Cecchetto from the CEI Secretariat for EU Projects briefly informed the CEI on the status of
several EU projects in final phase of implementation, that is, the Adriatic Baltic Landbridge Project (A-B
Landbridge), financed under the INTERREG IIIB CADSES Programme, and the ZIP-Net Project Realization
and networking of ZIP Enterprises Centres (Polyfunctional Industrial Zones) financed under the Adriatic
New Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG/CARDS-PHARE. With regard to the A-B Landbridge Project,
Ms. Cecchetto explained that its primary objective was to promote territorial cohesion between the
Adriatic-Baltic short sea shipping areas, while fostering balanced, environmentally sustainable
accessibility to new global markets. These long-term objectives are based upon the full deployment of the
A-B Landbridge corridors, and the logistics elements for ensuring the viability of the intermodal
connections. A variety of institutional setting activities focussing on developing sectoral forum discussions
are foreseen, to broaden the institutional reference base, as well as providing suggestions and
recommendations for a structured and efficient output of the project outcomes in this field. The CEI
mostly involved in these institutional activities, given its nature. Starting November 2007 and all
throughout the first months of 2008, the CEI has been focussing on the profiling of the Institutional
Setting of the participating countries of the AB Landbridge. (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy,
Poland and Slovenia). The Profiling represents part of a wider report in the framework of the Project, and
it will provide a description of the different institutional levels and structures involved in transport
infrastructure planning and deployment in the A-B countries. The report will contain description of the
bodies that are active and operational at each level, including their role and responsibility; also
considering current EU level activities in transport infrastructure development. Ms. Cechetto announced
that this activity will be completed by the middle of March. The project will end on 30 th April, with the
final conference taking place in Venice, on 23rd April.
As to the second project, i.e. the ZIP-Net Project, Ms. Cecchetto explained that it was aimed at realizing
and improving the ZIP Enterprise Centre (Polyfunctional Industrial Zone) in each partner area of the
countries involved and at enhancing the networking between the responsible institutional subjects, in
order to increase the competitiveness as well as to promote the entrepreneurship. ZIP-Net does not
foresee any physical realization of the actual buildings, but the activities related to the ideation, the
planning and the check of their feasibility, as well as the identification of financial resources for the
realization of the intervention. With the goal of enhancing the economic cooperation between the two
sides of the Adriatic Sea, each partner area has opened an Enterprise Desk with the task of informing and
giving services aiming at encourage entrepreneurial culture. The last project activity was carried out by
the CEI which was responsible for the organisation of the seminar “Fostering business enterprises
cooperation for local economic development” in collaboration with the Municipality of Zrenjanin
(Zrenjanin, Serbia, 28 January 2008). Investment opportunities in Serbia were presented during the
event which also offered the possibility of business match-making among Italian and Serbian operators.
The next occasion offered by the ZIP-Net Project to strengthen the economic relations between the
countries involved will be the Final Conference organised in Chieti, Italy, in June 2008.
Mr. Gianfranco Cicognani, CEI-ES Science and Technology Advisor, informed the participants on the
status of implementation of the BIOM-ADRIA Project - Energetic use of BIO-Mass in the Adriatic area
countries, financed under the Adriatic New Neighbourhood Programme INTERREG/CARDS-PHARE. This
project aimed at establishing an efficient cooperation between the Emilia-Romagna Region and Serbia on
the specific subject of the use of biomasses as a primary source of energy. A possible extension to the
Western Balkan countries and the Eastern countries (Belarus and Moldova) was under consideration. The
project includes two aspects: an institutional framework that is oriented towards the exchange of good
practices concerning energy policies, in particular biomasses; and a technical one aiming at analysing
both the feasibility and the economic performance of a demonstrative pilot power plant (a few MW) for
the use of biomasses through the direct combustion of the primary raw material. The BIOM-ADRIA
project thus combines the analysis of the institutional and economic contexts of the participating regions
with the purpose of ensuring favourable territorial energy policies, and the definition of a biomass-related
framework embracing local actors and producing a favourable impact in terms of sustainability,
employment and professional growth of local expertise. On the occasion of the First Project Interim
Meeting organised by the CEI in Trieste on 23-24 October 2007, an in-depth analysis of the state-of-the-
art of the project was carried out. Activities related to the analysis of the energy sector both in Serbia
(institutional and economic background) and in Emilia Romagna Region (energy and environmental
policies and good related practices) were implemented as well as the transfer of know-how and
experience from the Italian partner to the Serbian one. On the basis of the data collected, the VINCA
Institute (Serbian Partner) assessed the potential offered by the use of biomasses with a specific
emphasis on the primary material available, by carrying out a feasibility study of the general local system
and a technical evaluation of the reference power plant. As far as the assessment of the feasibility of a
demonstration pilot plant in Serbia (in institutional and financial terms) and its reproducibility in other
countries, the plant itself is under finalisation. To this end, Mr. Cicognani was in mission in Belgrade for a
month to assist the Serbian partner in delivering all activities. Meanwhile, several study visits were
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Draft 105.009-08
organised for a more effective exchange of know-how, whereas a staff exchange/training among
entrepreneurs is ready to start. In parallel, a detailed framework of all final documents - to be issued by
the end of the project as outputs: Technical contributions; Project Documents; Deliverables - have been
drafted. It will be officially adopted by all partners on the occasion of the Second Project Interim Meeting
to be held in Belgrade on 13-14 March 2008 in order to brief in view of the finalisation of project
deliverable and the organisation of the Project Final Conference in May. Furthermore, the second issue of
the “BIOM-ADRIA Fact Sheet” is to be published and disseminated among relevant contacts.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
16. Corridor 5
Discussion
Mr. Giuseppe Razza, former General Manager of the Corridor 5 Secretariat, informed the participants that
the meeting held in Trieste on 7 March 2008 gathered the representatives of the Corridors crossing the
Northern and the Central part of the CEI region, i.e. Corridors 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Upon the request of
Macedonia, Mr. Razza explained that the initial idea to organize a meeting with the representatives of all
Corridors crossing the CEI region (i.e. the above-mentioned Corridors plus Corridors 8 and 10), with the
aim to establish a joint Secretariat at the CEI Headquarters, was postponed due to the fact that to do this
it was necessary to make use of the EU funds. In this context, Mr. Razza noted that, for the time being,
the only running EU programme for such kinds of activities was the Central Europe Programme
(CENTRAL), where the countries crossed by Corridors 8 and 10 were not eligible to apply. However, as
explained by Mr. Razza, once the EU Programme covering these countries will become operative, i.e.
South East Europe Space (SEE), the idea of the establishing a joint Secretariat will be resumed, and the
respective applications to both programmes will be elaborated.
Then Mr. Razza reported on the other items discussed during this meeting, i.e. the finalization of the
Strategic Study for the Development of Corridor 5, the Feasibility Study for the railway connection
between Trieste (Italy) and Divaca (Slovenia) – CROSS 5, as well as the PORTUS Project, - Perspectives
on Inter-Regional Transport Unitary Systems, financed under the Adriatic New Neighbourhood
Programme INTERREG/CARDS-PHARE. With regard to the latter, Mr. Razza underlined that it aimed to
define a common development strategy for improving competitiveness of the Adriatic maritime system, in
particular by developing the connections between the main regional ports of the Adriatic Sea area and the
Trans-European Network system. The direct target groups include ministries, regional administrations,
municipal institutions, port authorities, which will cooperate in implementing priority scenarios for
improving the transport and logistic systems. CEI is working on institutional cooperation, through
continuous consultations among partners and stakeholders. On 8-9 October 2007, the CEI successfully
organized the First PORTUS Forum in Trieste. On this occasion, the port authorities of Northern and
Central Adriatic (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro) met for the first time
and started an intense phase of cooperation, to be continued at the second meeting of the Forum,
scheduled for 6 June 2008 in Venice. During the Second PORTUS Forum that will be organized jointly with
Veneto Region, project partners will present the final results of the analysis on the Adriatic System,
reached through a step-by-step research and feedback (Analysis of Global Maritime Market, Identification
of Adriatic Potentials, Development of Integrated Scenarios, Development of a Roadmap). At present ,
the working team of the University of Venice already presented its report “Analysis of Global Maritime
Market and Adriatic Positioning within Market” and the second phase (Identification of Adriatic Potentials)
is near to conclusion (Region Emilia Romagna). Montenegro requested more information regarding this
project.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
17. CEI Structure and Staff
Documentation
CEI-ES Structure and Staff as of 1 January 2008 (Ref. No. 1102.001-08)
Discussion
The CEI-ES DG drew the attention of the CNC to the changes in the work areas of some of the CEI-ES
staff members. Specifically, Ms. Barbara Fabro, who previously worked on the coordination of the
activities of the Secretariat for EU Projects, is now working on Intercultural Cooperation, Media, Science
and Technology, Minorities, liaison with UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Ms. Izabela Gostisa Pasic,
who was also involved in the activities of the Secretariat for EU Projects, is now working on
implementation of activities in the context of the CEI Special Fund for Climate and Environment
Protection and the Austrian Know-how Exchange Programme, as well as on Climate, Environment and
Sustainable Energy, Tourism. And at last, Mr. Alessandro Lombardo, who previously worked on Science
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Draft 105.009-08
and Technology and Culture, is now working on EU projects and Enterprise Development. However, the
CEI Science and Technology Network remained under his competence.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
18. Reports on selected recent and upcoming meetings
The CEI-ES Director General reported on the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the countries of the
European Union and of the wider Black Sea area, organized back to back with the special Meeting of the
Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC),
held in Kyiv on 14 February 2008. It was attended by delegations from 36 countries, the European
Commission (Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy), the Council of the European Union (Mrs. Helga Schmid, Director of the Policy
Planning Early Warning Unit) and other regional and international institutions. The meeting served as a
platform to discuss a number of priorities of Black Sea regional cooperation, set up in a Joint Statement
adopted by the participants at the end of the meeting. In his statement the CEI-ES Director General
outlined the position of the CEI regarding the development of regional cooperation, through a concrete
practical collaboration with other international institutions operating in the region, and highlighted the
importance of the EU in this process.
The CEI-ES Director General also briefed the participants on the final meeting of the Round Table of the
Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (SP) and the inaugural meeting of the Regional Co-operation
Council (RCC), held in Sofia on 27 February 2008. The meeting was attended by high-level
representatives of the member countries of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) and
of the international community. The event was conceived to formally hand over the responsibilities for
regional cooperation in South Eastern Europe from the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact, Mr.
Erhard Busek, to the Regional Co-operation Council and its Secretary General, Amb. Hido Biscevic. The
concept of the meeting, inter alia, pursued to underline the important role that the SP had in bringing
stability to the countries of South East Europe, and to highlight its significant work done throughout the
years in all areas of its activity. In this context, it was pointed out that the one of the key roles of the
RCC will be to further consolidate these initiatives. Participants also had an opportunity to address other
issues such as the impact of NATO and EU enlargement processes, the Kosovo issue, etc., as well as the
role of the regional cooperation in this regard. They also had an opportunity to exchange their views on
the future platform for regional cooperation. Indeed, in his statement addressed to the participants of the
meeting, the CEI-ES Director General outlined the position of the CEI in the changing political and
economic contexts in the region, a process that put more emphasis on the need for an extended regional
coordination and cooperation. In this context, he expressed the willingness of the CEI for concrete
practical cooperation with the other international organizations operating in the region in the areas where
mutual interest exists and where tangible results could be achieved. Moreover, on this occasion the CEI-
ES Director General had a brief encounter with the Secretary General of the RCC, Amb. Hido Biscevic.
They agreed that, since the CEI and RCC have a number of member countries in common, specific joint
projects of the two organizations could be organized. This possibility will be discussed in future meetings.
Amb. Biscevic was also invited to Trieste to visit the CEI in the next months. Macedonia noted that the
last year’s repositioning process of the CEI needed to be underlined on this kind of occasions and, thus
give a clear signal that it did all efforts to arrive at the so called “division of labour” and that it will
concentrate on the selected areas of activity, which will guide the organization in the future.
Then the CEI-ES Director General announced his participation in the Regional Coordination Meeting to be
hosted by the BSEC in Istanbul on 31 March.
Furthermore, the CEI-ES Director General informed that the CEI-ES Alternate Director General, Amb.
Kreid participated in the Bled Forum on Europe "Foresight and Knowledge based Governance Responses
to Climate Change", held in Bled (Slovenia) on 7-8 March 2008. He used this opportunity to disseminate
information on the CEI activities, particularly with regard to Climate and Environment Protection.
The CEI-ES Deputy Director General, Mr. Mykola Melenevskyi, informed the participants that he will
participate in the Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee to be held in Sibiu
(Romania) on 2-4 April. In this regard, Mr. Melenevskyi recalled the participants on the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between the CEI-ES and the Carpathian Convention Interim Secretariat in 2006.
Among the items to be discussed at the above-mentioned meeting, Mr. Melenevskyi particularly outlined
the issues with regard to the implementation of the Carpathian Convention such as sustainable
agriculture and forestry, transport and infrastructure, tourism, industry and energy, etc.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
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19. Monitoring activities in the region (recent and upcoming meetings)
Discussion
Bulgaria briefed the participants on the Meeting of the SEECP Ministers for Foreign Affairs, organized in
cooperation with the Slovenian EU Presidency, back to back with the final meeting of the Round Table of
the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (SP) and the inaugural meeting of the Regional Co-operation
Council (RCC) held in Sofia on 27-28 February, particularly on the participation and the issues covered.
Ukraine informed the participants that in autumn 2008 (dates to be confirmed) it planned to organize the
Second Kyiv Security Forum (The First Forum was held in Kiev 14-15 November 2007 and was devoted to
the theme "Settlement of the Frozen Conflicts"). Moreover, Ukraine informed the participants that an
Energy Forum and an Energy Summit will be held in May 2008 in Kyiv and Ivanofrankivs'k, respectively.
Conclusions
The CNC took note of this information.
20. Any other business
Discussion
The CEI-ES Director General informed the CNC that the Sovereign Military Order of Malta has informally
approached the CEI-ES with a view to attending the CEI high-level meetings. The CNC could examine this
issue in its future meetings in the light of Article 7 of the CEI Guidelines and Rules of Procedure, stating
that the CEI can invite any interested third State, regional entity and international organisation to
participate in CEI activities, events, programmes and projects and to confer the status of special guest or
other forms of partnership as appropriate.
The CEI-ES Director General also informed the CNC that during his visit to Chisinau in January this year,
the CEI-EU relations were among the topics of discussion with the Moldovan CEI Presidency. The idea of
paying a visit to Brussels was explored and last week, in a telephone conversation of the DG with the EC
Focal Point for the CEI, Mr. Janos Herman proposed 24-25 April as possible dates for the CEI
representatives’ visit to Brussels. However, Mr. Herman was interested in receiving a brief information on
the topics to be discussed as soon as possible. In this context, the CEI-ES Director General announced
that the topics to be possibly discussed could refer to the observer status and to concrete actions in the
fields of activity of the DG RELEX. In this regard, Moldova informed the participants that it has also
mobilized its Mission to Brussels, which was also in contact with Mr. Herman, in order to better organize
such visit.
Conclusions
The CEI-ES will inform the CNC on the results of the meeting between the CEI-ES and the CEI Presidency
with the EC.
12