This study summarises the discussions at the 8th economic forum of representatives from local and regional authorities, held in 2001 to consider key issues in relation to cities and regions in South-east Europe, including: a stocktake of existing partnerships; the proposed multilateral agreement to develop transfrontier co-operation; financing of projects to develop local democracy; and partnership exchanges.

The aim of this annual forum is to promote the development of local democracy in the South-East Europe region and the partnership and exchange of experiences with other European partners. This publication contains information on the debates and contributions to the 5th Forum, held in October 2004 in Budva, Serbia and Montenegro.

CLRAE = Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. On title page: To promote partnerships between cities and regions of South-East Europe. Forum organised in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in co-operation with the city of Prijedor and the Foundation for the Economy and Sustainable Development of the Regions of Europe (FEDRE)

This publication brings together the texts adopted by the Standing Committee of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Congress, a consultative body of the Council of Europe, is made up of two chambers: one representing local authorities, the other the regions. Its aim is to reinforce democratie structures at local and regional level, and in particular to help the newly-emerging democracies in central and eastern Europe. The Congress adopts three different types of texts: recommendations, opinions and resolutions. Recommendations are proposals to the Committee of Ministers, and their application is left up to each member government. Sometimes they are also addressed to other international organisations. Opinions usually refer to questions to the Congress from the Committee of Ministers or the Parliamentary Assembly. The Committee of Ministers and the Parliamentary Assembly consult the Congress on questions which are likely to affect the competence and the basic interests of the local and regional authorities which the Congress represents. Resolutions reflect the dâcisions that the Congress is authorised to take, or make recommendations to local and/or regional authorities and their associations.