Methods of Work

(1) The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI), initiated by the United States of America through the good offices of Ambassador Schifter on behalf of the President and the Secretary of State, was launched on 6 December 1996. Its objective is to enhance regional cooperation, and thus stability among the countries of Southeastern Europe. It will do this by encouraging cooperative and transboundary solutions to shared economic and environmental problems. Accordingly, under the auspices of SECI participating countries will seek to address together relevant developmental aspects of the region by improving information exchange, planning multistate programmes and attracting private capital to complement bilateral and multilateral sources of funding.

Scope of SECI work

(2) SECI will address common regional economic and environmental problems calling for concerted action. SECI is not an integration group but a flexible framework for launching and executing concrete projects and programmes of interest to the participating states. Its participants will identify, through the work of the Agenda Committee, projects of interest to two or more countries which are consistent and not duplicative of works underway in other economic fora or initiatives. SECI will create the environment conducive to the implementation of these projects and will seek to secure the means to implement them.

Methods of Work

(3) The participating states of SECI will operate through an Agenda Committee, assisted by a Coordinator and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The Coordinator has been named by the OSCE Chairman in Office after appropriate consultations with OSCE countries, and the technical assistance of the ECE has been requested by participating states on 6 December 1996.

(4) The responsibility of the Coordinator would include:

coordination and interaction with the SECI participating countries;
convening and chairing the Agenda Committee meetings;
follow-up to decisions taken by SECI representatives;
regular consultations with the Executive Secretary of ECE;
monitoring of SECI programme implementation;
mobilizing financial resources from bilateral and multilateral sources, including those from the private sector.
keeping the European Union, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and other relevant subregional, regional or international organizations informed of SECI activities and seeking cooperation opportunities with them after appropriate consultations with the participating states.
(5) Each of the participating governments would designate a high-ranking official, preferably a person with background in economics, to serve on the Agenda Committee which is the main decision-making body of SECL whose task will be to determine priorities and to review progress in the fulfilment of SECI goals.

(6) The Agenda Committee will be convened by the Coordinator every two months to review the project outlines for possible implementation by the interested countries and the development of already selected projects. The Agenda Committee meetings will be chaired by the Coordinator.

(7) It is proposed that meetings of the Agenda Committee be flexible without strict rules of procedures. It is understood that the participation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) will be governed by Annex I of the Statement of Purpose of the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative. Any decision on further enlargement of SECI can only be taken by consensus.

(8) Project proposals will be submitted by member countries, by the ECE or by any interested partner for selection and approval by the concerned SECI countries.

(9) For each project retained, the Agenda Committee would establish a working group consisting of representatives from the countries interested, experts from other interested governments, international financial institutions, as appropriate, ECE and private sector.

(10) Each working group would develop technical and financial feasibility studies and attempt to match sponsors of the project. SECI will not seek to implement projects, but will act as a catalyst to bring together countries of the region, lending institutions and technical agencies. The working groups would thus facilitate decision making and encourage the engagement of the private sector in the regional economy.

(11) The SECI will be technically supported by the UN/ECE. Through its network of contacts throughout the region and its conventions, norms, standards and guidelines, the ECE has the means to facilitate and simplify transborder operations and to provide mechanisms for solving problems.

(12) The support to SECI will be provided within the scope of ECE demand-driven operational activities in conformity with the United Nations General Assembly mandates to enhance cooperation at the regional and sub-regional levels and of promoting national ownership of regional programmes. According to its terms of reference, ECE secretariat, acting within the framework of the United Nations, will take no action in respect to any country without the agreement of the Government of that country.

(13) The ECE cooperation will be based on rules and procedures governing the United Nations operational activities. It will include:

preparation of the project outlines to the Agenda Committee;
further elaboration of these outlines for the meetings of the working groups;
securing cooperation of the other UN bodies and agencies as requested by the coordinator;
provision of advisory services and organization of workshops within available resources; It is recalled that the United States intends to provide funds for travel and to second experts to assist in project development.
regular consultations with the Coordinator and direct reporting to the Agenda Committee.
(14) The ECE will also report to the Commission on its assistance activities to SECI and will keep its Bureau regularly informed on the progress made.