EU Region EUROBALKANS
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2001
Cross-border co-operation as a means for reconciliation and regional development, going back to the 50s of the last century, proved to be an important tool for the integration and development process in Europe. Looking at the Balkans, it seems that after a decade of instability and conflict, all the SEE countries are working on an enhanced reform process that has as one of the objective the EU membership.
At the initiative of the Council of Europe, a long-term process was launched to foster trans-frontier cooperation between the border regions of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Macedonia and Serbia. The overall objective of this initiative was to employ intensified cross-border cooperation as a tool for regional economic development and integration within this Euroregion as well as to foster conditions of prosperity, security and peaceful co-existence between neighboring peoples and states.
On 18-19 September 2001, over 200 participants (mayors and local elected representatives, civil society actors, NGOs and business representatives, state administration officials) gathered in Niš at the invitation of Niš City Mayor Goran Ćirić, for an international Conference aimed at devising common strategies for regional development and integration in the Niš-Sofia-Skopje triangle.
The Conference, co-organized by the City of Niš in cooperation with the Council of Europe, was intended as the official launch of the EastWest Institute (EWI) Project entitled Re-integration of the Border Regions between FRY, Bulgaria and Macedonia: Sustainable Regional Development through Institutionalized Trans-frontier Cooperation in the Niš-Skopje-Sofia Triangle, part of the EWI Program on Trans-frontier Cooperation (TFC).
The Project aimed to re-establish political, economic and civic links between these border communities and support the eventual formation of an operational Euroregion. It aimed to further societal and political reform as well as economic development in the border regions concerned by tackling local and regional problems via common trans-frontier solutions.
2002
As a part of the project for enhancing cross-border cooperation in the Niš-Sofia-Skopje triangle, the Economic Forum was held in Sofia, in the period between February 20-23, 2002, co-organized by the cities of Niš, Sofia and Skopje, with active support of the EASTWEST Institute. This international event was generally viewed as very successful by all participants and very important for further development especially of economic cooperation in the region, and it resulted in reaching very important decisions which could contribute to removing all existing obstacles to free and easy communication of people, goods and services of these three countries and within Nis-Sofia-Skopje triangle.
Also the Universities of Niš, Skopje and Sofia signed the Protocol on Trilateral Cooperation in cross border educational and scientific cooperation. This protocol referred to the future cooperation according to European standards given in Declaration of Bologna which practically meant the establishment of Regional academic Center and the Commission for Educational programme Harmonization.
STEEL COMMITTEE
Representatives from the companies Makstil A.D. Skopje and AD MIN Holding Co. Niš suggested at the Economic Forum held in Sofia formation of the Steel Committee between the above mentioned border regions. Such Steel Committee should work under the umbrella of the Working Commission on Economical Development. Committee rose out of the need for a regional strategy for development of steel and metallurgical industry in the neighboring border regions of Serbia, Bulgaria and Macedonia, the need for an immediate restructuring of the existing facilities and capacities of the steel industry and the metallurgical complex, in order to enable them to operate in market oriented conditions and a wider European and global market and the need for a joint consultative organizational form through which a joint presentation of products on wider regional and world markets could be provided.
OFFICIAL PROTOCOL ON ESTABLISHING EU REGION
A year after the first meeting of this region city and municipality representatives, the Protocol on the Establishment of Intermunicipal and Regional Association, EU Region, was signed in Skopje in October 2002. This Protocol represented the commitment of the cities and municipalities from this region to intensify cooperation and participate actively in the implementation of the project.
2003
THE AGREEMENT ON ESTABLISHING EUROBALKANS
With the expert help from Council of Europe, the Statute was prepared as a unique legal framework for the functioning of this association defining the structure of the association and the ways of cooperation within the EU Region. The Statute was signed in September 2003 and EU Region officially became EU Region EUROBALKANS.
EUROBALKANS consisted of three national associations from Serbia, Bulgaria and FYRM comprising in total 66 cities and municipalities. The City of Niš was chosen to preside over the EUROBALKANS for the following two years.
COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING
Declaration on the formation of Civil Engineering Committee within the Niš-Sofia-Skopje Euroregion was signed at Niš City Hall. Declaration was signed by representatives of the biggest construction companies in the region: Beton from Skopje, Glavbogastroy – PLC from Sofia, Morava AD Krušce from Niš and Institute for Seismic Engineering and Seismology from Skopje. Political initiative resulted in clear and independent initiatives of business representatives, who, in a very short time, managed to define common economic interests and advantages of common presentation on the market. Formation of Committee for Civil Engineering would enable access to new markets and achieving high level in the field of construction works. As seen by the signees of the Declaration, this cooperation represented a combination of experience, power and new technology.
2010
The Mayors of Niš, Sofia and Skopje met in Sofia to discuss the possibilities of expanding the cross - border cooperation and the future activities within the project EU - Region. This meeting was the opportunity to define the priorities of the common regional development in the triangle Niš - Sofia - Skopje. These three local self-governments will do everything within their jurisdictions to intensify the cooperation between the business communities primarily. EU - Region Niš - Sofia - Skopje covers 66 municipalities and 2 million people in three countries. The City of Sofia will present this project to the EU member states and it would search for the funds to finance the activities within this project. The establishment of the national teams was agreed at this meeting. Their task would be to develop project activities.