The Regional Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe Introduction

The joint efforts to create a cooperative, regional approach to environmental reconstruction in South Eastern Europe have resulted in significant progress in the Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme's (REReP) development since 1999. REReP has become fully operational; its status has gone from donors' commitment to more than 100 currently implemented projects including both projects developed as part of the Quick Start REReP package and those supported through bi-lateral programmes, IFI loans or community instruments such as ISPA, CARDS and LIFE -Third Countries. REReP was born under the former Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe , Working Table II. It supports activities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244), Montenegro, Romania and Serbia. REReP has been endorsed by environmental ministers from the region at the Ministerial Conference in Skopje in March 2000, as well as officials from the Stability Pact, effectively making it the official environmental policy of the region. After a REReP Task Force reviewed its entire operating mechanism, REReP's focus was redirected to supporting stabilisation and association processes (SAP). Furthermore, it was firmly embedded into an evolving international framework to ensure its continued existence. REReP is now developing into a vehicle to assist the countries of South Eastern Europe in their long-term goals of European Union integration . The revised programme structure targets four priority elements: 1) institution building; 2) support to environmental civil society; 3) support to environmental, regional cooperation mechanisms and cross-border projects; and 4) reducing environmental health threats and the loss of biodiversity. The re-establishment of transboundary cooperation, the construction of new networks and South Eastern Europe's commitment to full implementation of REReP's activities all contribute greatly to the mainstreaming of environmental concerns into reconstruction and stabilisation activities.  Serving as REReP Secretariat, the REC is extremely active in the project's implementation. It also facilitates the dialogue between all REReP stakeholders and provides continual assessment of REReP's priorities.

Contact the REReP Task Force Secretariat