Aims of the second meeting of Working Table I
working methods and structures

The aim of the second meeting of Working Table I is to build upon the result of the first session that was held in Geneva in October 1999. Participants will be requested to review the work accomplished in the seven priority areas agreed to at Geneva: Human Rights and National Minorities; Refugee Return; Good Governance; Media; Gender; Education; Parliamentary Co-operation. In Budapest particular emphasis will be placed on reaching agreement on priority projects in preparation for the Stability Pact Financing Conference on March 29-30. The discussion and endorsement of proposals submitted by the Task Forces will be critical to present an attractive package of Table I initiatives to prospective donors. This will ensure that the Financing Conference has a balanced package of initiatives for consideration that cover democracy, economic and security issues.

The meeting will also examine existing initiatives to be taken in support of democratic forces in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and how to include them in the activities of Working Table I.

The format of the meeting envisions brief introductions by each of the Task Force sponsors summarizing the proposals to which they have given priority. Delegations will be then asked to consider these proposals as well as additional initiatives that have been put forward by the Stability Pact participants, facilitators and observers. A matrix containing a brief summary of these proposals will be posted on the Stability Pact’s web-site (www.stabilitypact.org). Each session should aim to reach a consensus of the Working Table as to the most effective combination of proposals. It is recommended that projects having a regional dimension and a "quick start" capacity receive particular attention.

The session on future action will provide delegations the opportunity to review the effectiveness of the current Working Table structure in addressing Table I priorities as well as discuss any other item of general interest in preparation for the May 2000 Regional Table Meeting.

Monday, 21 February

9.00-9.30 Opening Addresses:

- H.E. Mr. János Martonyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary
- Mr. Henrique Borges, National Coordinator for the Stability Pact in Portugal, European Union Presidency
- Mr Bodo Hombach, Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact
- Mr. Zsolt Németh, State Secretary, Co-Chair of Working Table I

Adoption of the Agenda


Working Session One

9.45-10.45 Human Rights and National Minorities:

The implementation of human rights practices and legal obligations towards national minorities is of pivotal importance for stability in Southeastern Europe. The Task Force on Human Rights and National Minorities (sponsor Slovenia; co-sponsor Council of Europe) has identified areas for action and proposes several projects such as a regional awareness-raising campaign on the values and principals of multiethnic and multicultural society and democratic citizenship, the creation of an International Center for Interethnic Relations and the Protection of National Minorities in Southeastern Europe, a comprehensive program aimed at promoting the status of the Roma Population and a series of civil society conferences. The Slovenian government will host a Conference on National Minorities and Inter-ethnic Relations in Ljubljana on March 17-18.

10.45-11.00 Coffee break

11.00-12.00 Refugee Return

There appear to be good prospects for generating results to increase the rate of return. To take advantage of this situation the problem of legal protection, employment, property rights and reconstruction assistance must be given priority. UNHCR is proposing projects to generate more returns within Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as cross border refugee returns to and from Croatia. Other proposals have been received that would address employment and the social conditions of returnees.

Gender
The Gender Task Force has prepared a broad program to enhance the status of women throughout South-Eastern Europe. The program aims to promote greater women’s political participation by establishing national and regional plans to develop the capability of women to compete for and hold political office. The Task Force also will press for actions in national electoral legislation to increase women’s chances to be elected and strengthen the national mechanisms to promote gender equality in all the countries of the region.

12.30-13.30 Lunch Break

Working Session Two

13.30-14.30 Good Governance

The development of an effective and trusted public administration is of paramount importance in creating a stable society and laying a foundation for democracy. Proposals have been developed to strengthen the role of local government and institutions throughout the region and to facilitate contacts between local authorities. Particular emphasis has been placed on developing administrative competence, high ethical standards and effective legal procedures. The creation of a "University for Democracy" to offer training and development programs for civil servants and the judiciary has also been proposed. The Council of Europe, as sponsor of the Task Force has also organized a ministerial level conference in the field of local democracy to be held in Bucharest on February 23-24. A Forum on Public Administration will be held in Thessaloniki in April. A key component of the good governance initiative will be the early establishment and reinforcement of independent national human rights protection institutions including ombudsmen, which are crucial to promote accountability in government.

14.30-15.30 Media
An objective and independent media is a fundamental element of a functioning democracy. To this end the idea of Media Charter has been elaborated with the aim of promoting freedom of expression, development of objective and independent radio and television broadcasters and, encouragement of professionalism in journalism. The Working Table is asked to consider proposals to ensure that the public throughout the region is able to receive diverse sources of information and that high professional standards are observed by the media. The media must be utilized to promote pluralism of ideas, opinions and cultures and to foster a climate of tolerance. Active efforts by the media to combat stereotype and hate speech are necessary. The need to establish new institutions or upgrade existing ones in order to train media professionals, should be considered. Priority must also be given to address the regulatory framework for the media in order to guarantee freedom of expression.

15.45 Address by Mr. Günther Verheugen, the European Commissioner for Enlargement

16.00-16.30 Coffee break


Working Session Three

16.30-17.30 Education

While the reform of education throughout the region is a long-term process, a program of short and medium term steps are essential to accelerate needed change. The principal objective of both regional and country-based activities is to ensure the adoption of the highest modern standards into policymaking processes at all levels. The Education Task Force has identified six priority areas for concentration. These are general education, policy and system improvement, higher education vocational education, children and youth, democratic citizenship and the presentation of history. It is hoped that a package encompassing all of these areas will be defined and endorsed. We hope that the March 10-12 Task Force Meeting in Graz will be successful in further defining priority activities and attracting donor support, including that of the NGO communities.

17.30-18.00 Parliamentary Co-operation

The Royaumont Process as a sponsor of the Task Force, submitted an action plan for promoting parliamentary co-operation in South-Eastern Europe. The Plan mainly consists of training and exchange programs for newly elected parliamentarians and parliamentary staff, conferences for young parliamentarians and publishing a regional newsletter. The role of the women parliamentarians has been given a special attention. The Croatian government willingness to host a meeting of speakers of the Parliament is also noted. The participants might consider to what extent these proposals would fit into the priority actions of the Stability Pact.
18.30 Reception by the State Secretary Mr. Zsolt Németh and Special Coordinator Mr. Bodo Hombach


Tuesday, 22 February

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*Working Session Four

9.00-10.00 Cooperation with Montenegro and the democratic opposition in the Federal Republic ofYugoslavia
The meeting will examine the ongoing activities in support of democratic developments in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that are undertaken by the European Union, Council of Europe, OSCE and other interested participants. It shall examine the possibilities of making the Republic of Montenegro and the Yugoslav democratic opposition early beneficiaries of the Working Table I projects. The Co-Chair will provide a preview of the follow-up Szeged Conference in support of the opposition-governed municipalities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to take place on 23-24 March.


Working Session Five

Future actions of the Working Table I

a) Additional comments and recommendations regarding Working Table I preparations for the Financing Conference
Consideration of the effectiveness of the current Working Table structure
b) Any other business

11.30 Press conference
by the Co-Chair Zsolt Németh and the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact Bodo Hombach