Newsletter 8/2010 - Activities in brief

Stronger national supervisory authorities guarantee more efficient and safer air transport

A three-day workshop on establishment and empowerment of airspace National Supervisory Authorities (NSA) was held in Sarajevo on 23-25 November 2010.

The goal of the workshop was to highlight the significance of strong National Supervisory Authority (NSA) for the effective implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) legislation as well as for the air transport safety in general. The workshop was divided into topical segments: importance of the NSA and the rules for joint designation of service providers aimed at the creation of an integrated airspace among the countries of South East Europe, as well as the importance of well-structured and well performed oversight.

The conference was opened by Head of the Belgian Diplomatic Office in Sarajevo, Alex Lenaerts, representing the Belgian EU Presidency, and RCC Expert on Infrastructure, Amna Redžepagić.

In his opening remarks Alex Lenaerts reminded that the Agreement for the establishment of the Implementation of the Single European Sky in South East Europe was signed by eight states of the region in Stockholm in 2008.

“The support for the extension of Single European Sky to South East Europe is an integral part of EU’s policy towards the region. This workshop is bringing closer the regional sky to the SES and the region to the EU.”

When addressing the present, Amna Redzepagic highlighted that the workshop was a continuation of RCC’s efforts to support national administrations from South East Europe to implement very demanding Single European Sky legislation aimed at increasing their operational capacity to improve safety levels in accordance with the European Common Aviation Area Agreement (ECAA).

The event gathered representatives of transport ministries and civil aviation authorities from South East Europe as well as experts in the field of air transport from Western Europe.

The workshop was co-organized by the RCC Secretariat and the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in cooperation with the European Commission and the Implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe (ISIS) Programme.


Draft strategy on justice and security cooperation in South East Europe finalized

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat hosted a two-day conference of national authorities, regional organizations and international partners on justice and security cooperation in South East Europe in Sarajevo, on 30 November and 1 December 2010. 

The event resulted in a finalized draft of the South East European (SEE) Regional Strategic Document and Action Plan 2011-2013 in the area of justice, home affairs and security cooperation. The final draft of the strategy is to be reviewed by all the participating ministries from the region by the end of this year.

Final endorsement of the consolidated document by the Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Participating States is planned for February 2011, under the Montenegrin SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office.

The goal of the Regional Strategic Document in the field of justice and home affairs is to enhance coordination of regional taskforces and initiatives with international organizations and relevant EU institutions and agencies.

The document focuses on cooperation in the following areas: fight against trans-border organized crime, anti-corruption, migration, asylum, refugees, fundamental rights, cooperation in civil matters and protection of children, through harmonizing regional activities of police, law enforcement and judiciary.

The conference was opened by Director of the Directorate for Regional Organisations and Initiatives of the Montenegrin Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the Montenegrin Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Igor Gradjevic: RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic: and Wouter Van de Rijt, Principal Administrator of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

The participants included representatives of national judicial, home affairs and security institutions from South East Europe, regional organizations, EU institutions and agencies, relevant international organizations, national and international experts, non-governmental organizations and professional associations. 


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