Efforts to boost growth in the Western Balkans should also strengthen reforms and the role of cities and regions, says the European Committee of the Regions.
The European Committee of the Regions has welcomed European Union plans to increase investment in the Western Balkans, calling the initiative a “key tool” to support the region’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. In its recommendations adopted on 7 May, the Assembly of Local and Regional Leaders of the EU also highlighted the need to ensure that local authorities are fully involved at all stages of the investment process, and the need to support reform investments.
The Committee’s support for Economic and investment plan for the Western Balkanswhich should catalyze the release of 9 billion euros in financing for transport, energy and the green and digital transition, is accompanied by a demand that “each investment” must be accompanied by “notification of reforms expected at local and regional levels. “.
The opinion, which provides a local and regional perspective on the progress reports drawn up by the European Commission, lists a wide range of problems at central government level. It “expresses its concern about the limited progress and the numerous challenges linked to the lack of political will, the persistent existence of certain elements of state capture, the limited progress in the area of judicial independence, the resistance institutional and the unfavorable environment for the activity of independent media in most countries. candidate countries and potential candidates”.
Nikola Dobroslavić (HR/PPE), President of the Dubrovnik-Neretva region and rapporteur on the Enlargement Package 2020said: “All Western Balkan countries should become members of the EU and their membership would be beneficial for these countries as well as the EU, but these countries must meet all the criteria for EU membership. Turkey still needs to convince the EU that they are truly ready to adopt European values. The European Commission should support decentralized cooperation of local and regional governments and strengthen their capacities to deal with emergency situations. It should also ensure that local governments are involved in the planning process and in monitoring economic developments. and Investment Plan, the key instrument that will support the region’s economic recovery.
The European Parliament’s rapporteur on enlargement has supported the call for greater involvement of local and regional authorities.
Tonino Picula (HR/S&D) said: “Personally, I believe in the importance of the role of local and regional authorities in the accession process. This is why I would particularly like to emphasize IPA 3 (Instrument for Assistance to pre-accession). I call for a stronger commitment from local and regional actors in pre-accession assistance. The aim is to support development while strengthening transparency and producing effective results. Particular attention should be paid to strengthening institutional and administrative capacities and effective good governance at all levels. It is essential that these countries fully implement the reforms agreed during the pre-accession and accession processes in order to progress towards membership of the Union European.
MEP Picula underlined the importance of enlargement policy, insisting that “it must not be a secondary policy of the EU” and that it “offers the EU a primary role plan in the region” at a time when “Russia, China, Turkey and the Gulf states are competing for economic and political influence in the Western Balkans.
The CoR’s opinion, the latest of its annual assessment of the annual assessment of the EU enlargement policy, highlights various ways in which the EU should support the regions and cities of the region, in addition to involving them in the planning and implementation of the economic and development plan. investment for the Western Balkans. These include long-standing requests for a number of existing programs and mechanisms – such as SIGMA And TAIEX – to extend to subnational administrations and the development of new means of increasing the administrative capacity of local and regional authorities in the Western Balkans.
The notice also includes an offer of “concrete support and cooperation” from the European Committee of the Regions in its efforts to find solutions “regarding the creation of an association of Serbian-majority municipalities in Kosovo.”
In its country-specific comments, the European Committee of the Regions highlights problems related to freedom of expression, media independence, corruption and judicial independence in Serbia and Montenegro and – in Serbia – regrets “the collapse of political pluralism”. The Committee calls on EU member states to begin the EU accession negotiation process for North Macedonia and Albania. Particular issues highlighted are the need for reforms to decentralize power in Albania and, in North Macedonia, to improve the management of EU funds. In Kosovo*, the Committee calls for a “clear distribution of powers and funding between central and local governments”.
During the debate on the recommendations at the CoR plenary session on May 5, several members also highlighted their concerns about Turkey’s relations with Greece, Cyprus and the EU. The CoR opinion condemns Turkey’s “anti-EU rhetoric and escalation of relations with Greece and Cyprus”, deemed incompatible with EU values, as well as the further deterioration of the human rights situation. man in the country.
Among the progress noted, the opinion welcomes the finally holding of local elections in Mostar, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after more than twelve years, describing this progress as a “significant contribution to the strengthening of democratic processes”, responding to calls from the EU. and by the courts. The CoR contributed to this progress by participating in a “think tank on Mostar» specifically created in 2017 by the Council of Europe with the aim of restoring local democracy in the city.
*This designation is without prejudice to status positions and is consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on Kosovo’s Declaration of Independence.
