Timisoara
Declaration
On Cross-border Regional Cooperation
in South-Eastern Europe
The 19th Conference "Europe of Regions"
was held at Timisoara, September 14-16, 2001. It was convened by the
International Scientific Conference Minorities for Europe of Tomorrow
- ISCOMET, the Folmer Wisti Foundation for International Understanding,
the Timis County Council, the Municipality of Timisoara, the Danish
Cultural Institute, Copenhagen, and the European Centre for Ethnic,
Regional and Sociological Studies of the University of Maribor - ECERS.
The conference was held under the auspices of the Secretary General
of the Council of Europe, Mr. Walter Schwimmer, and the patronage
of the President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
of Europe (CLRAE) of the Council of Europe, Mr. Llibert Cuatrecasas.
More than 100 experts, representatives of national, regional and local
authorities, international organisations, non-governmental organisations
and members of minority groups participated in the conference.
The participants of the conference,
Bearing in mind the specific importance of South-Eastern Europe
for the stability and security of Europe as a whole, the rich ethnic
and religious diversity of this region and the richness of its shared
cultural heritage,
Acknowledging the existing cross-border regional cooperation
initiatives both at the level of local and regional authorities and
at the level of civil society, such as the Euroregions Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisa
and Danube-Sava-Drava,
Supporting the endeavours for increasing cooperation between
the above-mentioned Euroregions and for including the Brcko District
of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this cooperation,
Recognising the endeavours of major European and international
organisations concerning stability, cooperation and development of
the region (Stability Pact, EU special programs, etc.), and
Acknowledging the importance of cross-border cooperation, as
a manifestation of the principle of subsidiarity, for the stability,
democratisation and development of the region and for its gradual
inclusion into European structures,
Taking into account the valuable experiences of the Nordic/Baltic
countries in cross-border cooperation, particularly with regard to
human rights, democracy, interethnic relations and cultural heritage,
have adopted the following recommendations:
1. It is necessary to create adequate political,
legal and other conditions for free movement of persons and goods
within the region, removing administrative and other obstacles, providing
adequate infrastructures and establishing new border crossings etc.
2. Governments and other authorities are urged to give better recognition
to the role of NGOs in the development of cross-border cooperation.
Citizens and their associations and organisations should be encouraged
and supported to become involved in cross-border cooperation including
regional NGO networks.
3. The states concerned as well as regional and local authorities,
where they have such competence, should adopt or harmonise relevant
legal provisions and conclude bilateral or multilateral agreements
in order to create the necessary conditions for the development of
cross-border regional cooperation.
4. The countries of the region that have not yet done so should acceed
to the international treaties concerning cross-border cooperation
and local self-government adopted within the Council of Europe and
harmonise domestic legal provisions and other measures with their
international obligations in this field.
5. Local and regional democratic government should be based on the
active participation of the citizens in the decision-making process
including cross-border regional cooperation. Local and regional authorities
should be provided with the necessary competence and capabilities
in order to promote and sustain cross-border cooperation.
6. Ethnic and religious communities should be indispensable actors
in cross-border regional cooperation. It is necessary to use the framework
of cross-border regional cooperation in implementing mechanisms for
the protection of human rights and minorities. The experiences of
the commissioner for human rights and democratisation of the Baltic
Sea State Council should be taken into consideration regarding the
South-Eastern European region.
7. It is necessary to promote various policies of multilingual and
multicultural education in order to further the knowledge and acceptance
of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity. The role of regional
mass media should be underlined.
8. It is commendable to stimulate the dialogue between the different
churches and religious communities in the region and their contribution
to reconciliation, respect of others' opinions, human rights and democracy
in the region.
9. Support should be given to the protection and promotion of cultural
heritage as a main element of the multicultural character of society
and the region and as a major contribution to the European cultural
heritage and to the activities of relevant institutions and organisations
in the field.
10. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of the Stability Pact
especially in the framework of Working Tables I and II dealing with
human rights, democracy and good governance, and with economic cooperation
and development, respectively. The cultural dimension should be included
into the Stability Pact.
11. The European Union should make further efforts to make the existing
policies regarding the region (Stabilisation and Association Process,
CARDS programs etc.) more efficient, especially by strengthening coordination
regarding the implementation of its policies in the region. In addition
it is necessary not only to execute the existing instruments (INTERREG-C
program etc.), but also to adopt other appropriate measures preventing
new divisions of the region along the Schengen borders.
The participants and in particular ISCOMET and other
conveners of the conference have expressed their willingness to take
part in activities for the implementation of this declaration and
in supporting state, regional and local authorities and other institutions
and organisations in carrying out cross-border cooperation in the
region.
Timisoara, September 16, 2001
