1. Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital Opportunities for Regional Cooperation in South Eastern Europe Sofia, 4 April 2008

2. Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital incorporates education, higher education, training and research the aim is promoting coherency and coordination by creating a platform for dialogue and cooperation of actors from the sectors and with key relevant stakeholders we work on making Fostering and Building of Human Capital a top priority, both in South Eastern European countries and in the European Union policies vis-à-vis the region –having the goal to maximize the benefits of investment in human capital development through its contribution to sustainable economic and social development by ensuring the coherency with other actions promoted at regional and national level –but, it is essential that there be a focused national commitment to reforms, especially with respect to greater and effective investment in education and research

3. Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital promotes a regular dialogue, information exchange and coordination of activities, where appropriate, between the areas of education, higher education and research in the SEECP region and formulation of recommendations for the Regional Cooperation Council in order to –foster the development of a learning society, democratic and accessible to all as prerequisite for the political, economic and social development and for the integration of the countries of the region into the Euro Atlantic mainstream. –nurture the stabilisation and reform process to be a success and sustainable in the long run without this it would be difficult to achieve competitiveness, employment generation, flexibility of the labour force and social cohesion in SEE

4. Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital Membership The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, the signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding from Istanbul, the Task Force Education and Youth, the Members of the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) and the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkans are invited to participate in the meetings of the Coordination Process/Task Force Building Human Capital as its founding members.

5. Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital Leadership The TFBHC is lead by a core team comprised of a chair and 2 co-chairs. Chair and co-chair positions are taken by the representatives of the founding members of the Task Force based on the following principles: –One of the two co-chairs is from the country hosting ERISEE –Duration of the mandate is 2 years The first mandate counting from the RCC endorsement of the TFBHC profile and structure will be ensured by the signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding from the following countries: Romania as chair and Austria and Croatia as co-chairs.

6. Continuity of Frameworks for Cooperation in the SEE Regional cooperation for human capital development – priority of the Task Force Education and Youth since 1999 Significant move from (aid) assistance for the region to genuine cooperation in and with the region Availability of high-level framework for cooperation: Regional Cooperation Council and its Task Force FBHC, ERI SEE, MoU on Education and Research from Istanbul (2007) Continuity of cooperation is paramount

7. Building Human Capital for Innovation and Competitiveness Promotion of innovation and competitiveness is a long term, trans-sectoral investment The knowledge triangle of education, research and innovation – a paradigm for inter-sectoral (including the business community) approach towards building human capital. Main instrument: the Task Force Fostering and Building Human Capital of the RCC Focus on building the innovative potential and creativity of individuals, and on the development of the innovative capacities of institutions in SEE

8. Recommendations Make best use of the Task Force Building Human Capital of the RCC and of existing regional cooperation networks and platforms, mobilise the full potential of the available EU instruments for promoting joint projects, and cooperating on national and regional innovation priorities. Use on regular basis the possibilities for inter-institutional and inter- sectoral cooperation for Fostering and Building Human Capital through the Regional Cooperation Council and its Task Force Mobilise the cooperation potential with the private business through establishing and supporting a regional Steering Committee in Innovation and Competitiveness, comprising relevant actors in the field of human capital development in the SEE region