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JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENT

At the occasion of the European Ministerial Conference on Information Society in Ljubjana on the 3rd and 4th of June 2002, we the Ministers responsible for the development of the Information Society or their authorized representatives of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), Macedonia, and Moldova, have met within the context of the Stability Pact’s eSEEurope Initiative, with the purpose of agreeing to prepare joint actions in the context of the Information Society that will enhance the cooperation on economic; social and cultural issues between the South Eastern European countries .

Recognizing the success of eEurope launched by the leaders of the European Union in Lisbon on 23/24 May 2000 and Europe+ launched by the leaders of EU Candidate Countries in Goteborg on 16 June 2001, we hereby reaffirm our intention to develop the Information Society by taking regional actions which aim to improve the future prosperity and stability of the region and contribute to improved democratic structures, economy progress, social cohesion, and regional security.

Recognizing the indispensable requirement for a transparent, effective, and pro-competitive regulatory and institutional environment, the specific role of the government in establishing such an environment, and the positive experiences of the eEurope and eEurope+ processes, we declare our commitment to:

• introduce rapidly a new legislative and policy framework for the Information Society, in particular in the area of telecommunications;
• improve the capability of the region to apply Information and Communications Technology for better governance, economic development, social cohesion, and cultural diversity;
• cooperate closely in regional and international scale with the aim to integrate the countries of the region into the global knowledge-based economy.

Recognizing the importance of a strategic approach and political commitments at the level of heads of government in the eEurope and eEurope+ processes, our Governments will aim to prepare an ambitious eSEE AGENDA coherent with EU policies, recognising the relevance of the specific approach of the eEurope+ framework for our countries, covering a series of specific actions to introduce new legislative frameworks and facilitate the further development of the Information Society. The planned eSEE AGENDA is to be agreed by the end of October 2002.

In order to ensure progress in these undertakings, we will appoint senior policy officials from our countries to the eSEE Working Group to prepare the eSEE AGENDA for the approval of our Heads of Government, and subsequently to review progress on its implementation and prepare measures necessary to further development of the Information Society.

We hereby confirm our readiness to integrate the various aspects of developing Information Society into our nationally financed, economic development plans.

We request the EU Member States, the European Commission, and the international community including the EU candidate countries - recognizing the special status of Bulgaria and Romania as EU candidate countries from the SEE region - to support us in achieving these commitments by providing guidance, assistance and transfer of experience needed for the elaboration and implementation of our ambitions.

We welcome regional Information and Communication Technology facilitation-related initiatives, in the framework of the Stability Pact, in areas of interest to our countries.

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