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Southeast Europe Cooperation Process
Good
neighborhood process in European countries started under the name of
“stability, security and cooperation” with the proposal of the Turkish
government in June 1996 in Sofia in the assembly of Southeast Europe
countries foreign ministers. Turkey, Greece, Albania, Romania,
Yugoslavia (Serb-Karadađ), Bulgaria, Macedonia were permanent members
whereas Bosnia –Herzegovina was the
observer member. During the presidency of Romania the name of the
enterprise has been changed to “Southeast Europe Cooperation Process”
(SEECP).
The main
goal of the process is to obtain peace, security, stability and an
environment for cooperation to strengthen and encourage good
neighborhood relations among southeast European countries.
The
process also aims to create a southeast Europe, which has a future based
on regional integration to Europe and Europe-Atlantic structuring along
with peace, democracy, economic wellbeing. Political cooperation shapes
the framework of the process. This cooperation is composed of security,
stability, economic and environmental cooperation, encouragement of
humanly, social and cultural cooperation and justice, fight against
organized crime, elimination of terrorist acts, and smuggling of drugs,
arms and human.
Regional
youth forum
Regional
youth forum was organized in Saraybosna between 12th and 14th
March 2004, during the term presidency of Bosnia-Hersek in SEECP. In the
meeting that the SEECP governments and representatives of NGO’s took
place; Emre Koyuncu and Baţak Demir represented Youth for Habitat –
Turkey.
The
latest assembly at the level of ministries was organized in Makedonia in
March 2001 as a part of SEECP. In the forum, which was organized at the
end of the rest three – year period; the significant progress had been
shown.
During
the forum, round table conversations were made around three main topics:
1.
Regional cooperation: resolution of conflicts and the activity of youth.
2.
The cooperation of the youth from region, youth politics and adaptation
to European standards
3.
Brain drain -the youth leaving the region, unemployment and education
issues.
During
the round table gatherings, discussions took place in three sessions
along with the presentations of the relevant people. Experiences were
shared about applications and problems in the region countries.
In the
session about the youth participation and youth politics, a presentation
about youth studies within Turkey Local Agenda 21 Program was given.
In the
final rapport of the forum that aimed experience sharing in the relevant
issues and creating an environment for dialogue, problems concerning the
regions were underlined and demands were given about the above mentioned
topics. The final output of the forum is below.
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Regional forum takes the necessity of the resolution of the youth
issues into account and offers that youth issues should be claimed and
taken as a priority in the SEECP agenda.
-
The
forum proposes activity of the youth as the key for development of
regional cooperation, prevention of disputes and creating stability.
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For
supporting youth activism, efficiency of the visa regime in southeast
Europe region (free visas for the organized activities about less
complicated procedures, exchange of youth, education, culture, sports,
health etc) is necessary.
-
Governments should recognize and encourage voluntary work within legal
framework and through special precautions.
-
Governments should develop a legal framework for the improvement and
encouragement of youth NGO’s
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Youth
politics should be developed as a state politics among sectors
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Associate administration principle should be implemented in all
aspects of the government in order to provide youth participation in
decision making mechanisms.
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Information sharing, special discounts for the young travel, a better
cooperation among youth organizations for this information to reach
the young is required.
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In
order to prevent brain drain, a better cooperation among regions and
implementation of fellow projects is required.
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Governments should develop fellow regional programs and implement them
in order to employment of new graduates.
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Student exchange programs among the universities of the regions should
be increased and encouraged.
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