LEED Directing Committee: Assistance to the Western Balkans economies in their accession to the European Union

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended a special session of the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme Directing Committee held on 21-22 November 2011 in Paris aimed at reviewing initial findings and exchanging learned lessons between policy creators of the OECD member countries and the SEE partners. 

Representatives of the Labour and Employment Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina attended a special session of the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme Directing Committee held on 21-22 November 2011 in Paris aimed at reviewing initial findings and exchanging learned lessons between policy creators of the OECD member countries and the SEE partners. 

The aim of the project to be implemented in 2011-2012 is to provide assessment of local development capacities in view of the EU accession in the Western Balkans economies using OECD criteria, develop recommendations and Action Plans for policy and institutional framework improvement in each partner economy and identify capacity building priorities which could be addressed in 2012-2013. 

It was indicated in the session that the progress in the Western Balkans was remarkable in previous years but there was still much to be done, especially in view of local capacities needed to implement national policies or deliver place-specific strategies.  A stronger local capacity to manage change is needed to improve competitiveness and address the challenges faced by the region.  The rapid restructuring and integration into the global economy have exacerbated traditional regional gaps and created many disparities when many heavily industrialized regions which had been prosperous in the past found themselves in decline, while other areas rapidly advance towards ''new'' prosperity.  Unemployment remains high in most of the region and the mismatch between skills and jobs hampers labour absorption and slows down business development.  Whilst central governments pull the macroeconomic levers, a stronger capacity at regional and local levels is needed to enhance beneficial impacts of the macro changes and the higher tier changes.   

It was particularly underlined that the success of this initiative depended on the participation and engagement of key ministries, competent agencies and other stakeholders.  In each partner country teams were formed composed of a limited number of high-level policy makers, OECD and EC representatives who will agree the specific country review priorities.  The country teams will work towards coordination and integration of different project components, involvement of regional and local stakeholders and dissemination of results.   Link will be established with the Regional Cooperation Council to promote wider regional cooperation on local development issues.

For each country a report will be produced providing assessment of local development capacities, outlining recommendations and Action Plans for policy and institutional framework improvement and identifying capacity building needs and priorities which could be addressed in 2012-2013.  Then, a synthesis report on the region of the Western Balkans will be produced outlining key challenges related to local development capacities in the region and giving recommendations and Action Plans for a cross-country cooperation to support local development.   

LEED's mission is to contribute to the creation to more and better jobs through effective policy implementation, innovative practices, stronger capacities and integrated strategies at the local level.    

OECD and its LEED Programme are conducting a study on ''Local Development Capacity Assessment in view of the EU accession in candidate and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans''.  The study reviews Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo under UNSCR 1244, Montenegro and Serbia.   The objective of the study is to provide practical recommendations to national and local policy makers on how to improve local capacity to: promote employment and skills development, support SME creation and growth, foster social inclusion and design and implement integrated local development strategies.  Bijeljina and Tuzla Canton have been selected as case study localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina for this project.