PROKLETIJE-BJESHKET E NAMUNA Preparation for implementation of the Area Based Development (ABD) Approach in the Western Balkans BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” “This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South Eastern Europe (SEE) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.” This document is output of the IPA II Multi-country action programme 2014 Project ”Fostering regional cooperation and balanced territorial development of Western Balkan countries in the process towards EU integration – Support to the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South-East Europe” 2 BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” Published by: Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in SEE (SWG) Blvd. Goce Delcev 18, MRTV Building, 12th floor, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia Preparation for implementation of the Area Based Development (ABD) Approach in the Western Balkans Baseline Study and Strategic Plan for development of the cross-border region “Prokletije- Bjeshkët e Namuna” On behalf of SWG: Boban Ilić Authors: Suzana Djordjević Milošević, Fatmir Guri, Jelena Krivčević, Irena Djimrevska, in cooperation with stakeholders from the region “Prokletije- Bjeshkët e Namuna” Editor: Damjan Surlevski Proofreading: Ana Popova Manasievska Design: Filip Filipović Photos: SWG Head Office/Secretariat and Irena Djimrevska CIP - Каталогизација во публикација Национална и универзитетска библиотека "Св. Климент Охридски", Скопје 352(497) PREPARATION for implementation of the area based development (ABD) approach in the Western Balkans : Baseline study and strategic plan for development of the cross-border region Prokletije - Bjeshkët e namuna / [authors Suzana Djordjević Milošević ... и др.]. - Skopje : Standing working group for regional rural development (SWG), 2017. - 145 стр. : илустр. ; 30 см Публикацијата е во рамките на проектот: "Fostering regional cooperation and balanced territorial development of Western Balkan countries in the process towards EU integration - support to the regional rural development standing working group (SWG) in South-East Europe". - Автори: Suzana Djordjević Milošević, Fatmir Guri, Jelena Krivčević, Irena Djimrevska ISBN 978-608-4760-21-4 1. Djordjević Milošević, Suzana [автор] а) Локална самоуправа - Меѓународна соработка - Балкан COBISS.MK-ID 103428874 3 BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ABDA Area-Based Development Approach ALB Albania CAP Common Agricultural Policy (EU) CB Cross Border CBC Cross Border Cooperation CBD Convention for Biological Diversity CEFTA Central European Free Trade Agreement CSO Civil Society Organization DG AGRI Directorate General for Agriculture EC European Commission EU European Union EUR Euro (currency) FAO Food and Agricultural Organization FF Family Farms GDP Gross Domestic Product GIZ German International Cooperation HACCP Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points ICT Information and Communication Technologies IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IPA Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (EU) IPA CBC Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Cross Border Cooperation IPARD Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Rural Development ISO International Organization for Standardization JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency JRC IPTS Joint Research Center of EC, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies KOS* Kosovo* LAG Local Action Group LEADER Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l'Économie Rurale (FR) LED Local Economic Development LFA Less Favorable Area MNE Montenegro NGO Non-Governmental Organization NP National Park 4 BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” NUTS Nomenclature for Territorial Units for Statistics OECD Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD-DAC Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development As- sistance Committee PDO Protected Designation of Origin PGI Protected Geographic Indication P to P People to People RD Rural Development RDA Regional Development Agency SEE South Eastern Europe SHG Stakeholder Group SIDA Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SME Small and Medium Size Enterprises SWG RRD Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development in South Eastern Europe SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats TBC To be confirmed TBD To be defined TO Tourism Organization UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization USAID United States Agency for International Development WB Western Balkans WWF Med Pro World Wild Fund for Nature- Mediterranean Protection * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 5 BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. CROSS-BORDER REGION „PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA“ (introductory remarks)......08 2. BASELINE ANALYSIS OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION „PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA“ ......................................................................................13 2.1. Introduction...................................................................................................................................13 2.2. Geographical area....................................................................................................................13 3. A QUANTIFIED DESCRIPTION OFTHE CURRENT SITUATION.....................................................20 3.1. Human pottential......................................................................................................................20 3.1.1. Demography..................................................................................................................20 3.1.2. Education......................................................................................................................23 3.1.3. Civil society organizations (CSO)..................................................................................24 3.1.4. Social exclusion............................................................................................................24 4. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES......................................................................................26 4.1. Natural resources.....................................................................................................................26 4.2. Environmental protection.........................................................................................................31 4.3. Historical and cultural heritage.................................................................................................32 5. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES...........................................................................37 5.1. Infrastructure and transportation..............................................................................................37 5.2. Employment..............................................................................................................................39 5.3. Local economy per economic sectors.....................................................................................40 5.3.1. Agriculture.....................................................................................................................40 5.3.2 Tourism.........................................................................................................................45 5.3.3 Other sectors................................................................................................................48 6. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION AND INSTITUTIONAL POSSIBILITIES....................................49 7. CONCLUSIONS, GENERAL REMARKS ABOUT THE REGION.....................................................51 7.1. Assessment of social capital from the perspective of rural development................................51 7.2. General conclusions on human resources...............................................................................52 7.3. Assesment of natural and cultural heritage with regard to rural development.........................52 7.4. Estimate of the level of sustainability within the existing economy..........................................53 7.5. Classifying the region– potential for common rural development and capacities for improving cross-border cooperation........................................................................................53 6 BASELINE STUDY AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA” 8. STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE CROSS-BORDER REGION “PROKLETIJE- BJESHKËT E NAMUNA”........................................................................................54 8.1. Rationale behind the idea of establishing the cross-border region and starting the strategic planning process.................................................................................................54