Local/Regional Economic Development in South ... - Value Chains

7.1 Transnational Regional Management –
the Albania, Greece, Macedonia Triangle
Anica Palazzo
Background
In border regions, growth, employment, security, and prosperity
depend on joint development approaches through
cooperation across borders. The concept of cross-border
cooperation/Euroregions builds upon the vision that regional
and economic development as well as social welfare
and stabilization of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) can
only be achieved by a strong commitment at local level.
Local authorities, the civil society, non-governmental organizations
and entrepreneurs at local level have to take
over ownership, agree on a joint strategy for sustainable
local/regional economic development, which at the same
time assures improved livelihood and social cohesion. In
border regions, the model of Euroregions has proven to be
a successful tool for enhancing cross-border economic development
and mutual understanding between different
nationals. The reason for their success is that they are not
imposed top-down, but result from a bottom-up process,
mostly initiated and carried out by local governments and
local social partners.
Given the development potential but also the historically
founded conflict potential in the border region of Albania,
Greece and Macedonia, the German Government decided
to promote cross-border, regional cooperation. Regional
cooperation in this triangle, which can build on the rich
tourism potential of the Prespa and Ohrid Lakes, its historical
sites and nature faces major challenges:
• Ethnic and inherited conflicts, which prevent people
from becoming reconciled and coming to trust each
other
• Environmental damage in the lake district caused by
water pollution and extensive water use, resulting in
mutual blame but also the need for coordinated activities
• The aspiration of both Albania and Macedonia to join
the EU, which requires a change of policies as well
as efforts from both governments to ensure a good
neighboring relationship with each other and with
Greece
Project implementation
The purpose of the project EUREGIO/Economic Development
and Employment Promotion (EDEP), which was
implemented by GTZ on behalf of the German Federal
Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
(BMZ) in the framework of the Stability Pact for SEE, was
to promote economic development and ensure income
without harming the environment in an area with natural
resources that should be conserved.
The project strategy is based on
• Existing cross-border activities, initiated by the trilateral
Agreement on Cross-Border Cooperation signed
between the Prime Ministers of the three countries in
the year 2000
• The Declaration of the Trans-Border Prespa Park Area
and the establishment of Prespa Park Coordination
Committee (PPCC)
• The joint Strategic Action Plan (SAP), setting the
common measures for environmental protection and
sustainable development
• Measures initiated by the European Union to support
the development of a Euroregion in the wider area
All project activities were coordinated either with the Prespa
Park Coordination Committee or various local partners
working towards the establishment of the Euroregion.
The activities within the project can be grouped in several
components:
• Microproject financing, which aimed at establishing
confidence among partners in the three neighboring
countries and creating permanent networks in various
sectors and at institutional levels
• Economic cooperation with emphasis on tourism as
the most promising economic sub sector in the crossborder
region
• Support to the Local Self-Governments (LSGs) in the
development of Euroregion concepts and cooperation
with PPCC, as first official trilateral body, setting examples
for joint efforts for regional cooperation
Project implementation
Indirect support to trans-border cooperation: Within
the micro project program, Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs), LSGs and governmental institutions
were invited to submit proposals for projects. The primary
selection criteria were that the project proposal be
jointly submitted from partners and provided benefits to
the communities in all three countries thus supporting the
development of the Euroregion concept. The Prespa Park
Coordination Committee (PPCC) participated in the
evaluation and selection of projects in order to strengthen
their capacities and to ensure that the measures fit into the
guidelines of the SAP. Representatives of the EDEP project
participated as observers in each meeting of the PPCC
and the implementation of activities was co-financed from
the EDEP micro project fund.
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