Signing Memorandums of Understanding between the Mayors of the Municipalities from the cross-border regions included in the SWG EU funded project “Preparations for implementation of the Area Based Development Approach (ABDA) in the Western Balkan countries”, 27 February – 7 March 2013 in Kosovo , Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Serbia

The Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in the South-East Europe is continuing with the activities related to preparations for implementation of the Area Based Development Approach (ABDA) in the Western Balkan countries.
The Baseline Study and Strategic Framework for economic development and cross-border cooperation implementing the Area Based Development Approach (ABDA) were prepared for “Drina-Sava”, “Sharra” and “Prespa” cross-border (CB) regions by the SWG and for the “Drina- Tara” CB region by the Joint Research Center of the European Commission (JRC). These documents were prepared in close cooperation with the stakeholders from the CB  regions and were financed by the European Commission.
At the same time, structures for local participation in the ABDA process, through the Stakeholder Group representing local authorities, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and business sector have been created.

As a result of the previous activities, Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between participating municipalities and cities from the cross-border regions have been prepared.

The aim of these documents is to promote the mutual understanding and cooperation among the stakeholders as well as the regional ownership of the actions to be implemented in function to sustainable economic growth of the concerned cross-border regions and they express the willingness and readiness for participation in the process of mutual cooperation and joint actions for development of the cross-border regions.

The schedule for the meetings of the Mayors and the formal signing ceremonies is the following:

• 27^th February 2013  in Prizren, Kosovo* – “Sharra” CB region
• 1^st March 2013 in Korcha, Albania – “Prespa” CB region
• 5^th March 5^th 2013 in Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina – “Drina-Sava” CB region
• 7^th March 2013 in Zlatibor, Serbia – “Drina-Tara” CB region

In continuation, after the signing ceremonies, the 1^st Meetings of the Stakeholder Groups’ Members will be held for each CB region.

For more information related to the meetings please see the Proposed Programmes

Kosovo* – “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.”