1. The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe-an instrument for regional cooperation Towards a European Qualification Framework for Lifelong learning Expert workshop Vienna, 21-22 October 2005

2. What is ERI SEE? ERI SEE is a regional platform for co-operation in the education area. It is intended to serve as an interface between ongoing national reforms in South Eastern Europe and current trends and developments in the education sector at EU level. Through fostering regional co-operation and facilitating capacity building and know-how transfer, ERI SEE promotes common European standards in education, also in the light of the ongoing EU integration process of the region.

3. Institutional development The Task Force Education and Youth (TFEY) /Enhanced Graz Process In December 2002, in the context of transferring the ownership for regional co-operation in the South Eastern Europe, the TFEY has launched the Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) Memorandum of Understanding signed by the ministers of education and higher education from the South Eastern Europe- the base for ERI SEE development.

4. ERI SEE Secretariat The Secretariat of ERISEE is responsible for the implementation of the annual programs adopted by the Governing Board within the overall objective of integrating SEE countries into the evolving Wider European Area of Education through networking, organisation and delivery of seminars, training,workshops etc. The Secretariat of ERISEE is acting as a platform for facilitating communication, cooperation and networking between experts and institutions within the SEE region

5. Institutional structure of ERI SEE

6. The ERI SEE Instruments Senior Officials Meetings Enhance networking Thematic Expert seminars Dissemination of EU documents and strategic papers & relevant SEE documents on education reform

7. 2005 working programme The 2005 working programme includes the following objectives: Preparation for participation into the Community Integrated Lifelong Learning programme by capacity building measures Enhancing cooperation in the field of education and training with the support of international organizations Collecting and dissemination of relevant documents on education reform in SEE Increasing visibility of activities developed under ERI SEE framework

8. Example of regional cooperation Preparation for Community LLL programmes participation Objectives established : training of experts, cooperation between institutions in the region, facilitating transfer of knowledge and best practices, establishment of a network of experts Instruments that have been used : »International workshops »Translation of EU documents »Regional expertise offered by experts from Bulgaria and Romania »European expertise offered by experts from: European Commission, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway »Best practice collection&dissemination through ERI SEE website ( www.erisee.org) and distribution of relevant documents

9. Example of regional cooperation Outcomes : »A network of experts established »Basic training on managing Community funds »The EU documents/proposals translated into Serbian/Croatian, Macedonian and Albanian »Best practices collected and disseminated on ERI SEEs website »Support from the institutions already managing Community funds

10. ERI SEE and EQF Translation of the EQF Commission document into the languages of the region Available on the website: www.erisee.org www.erisee.org Discussion with the senior officials on the objectives to be developed by ERI SEE in 2006 Initiate discussions with our partners and donors for developing national and regional projects

11. Perspectives for the near future »Continue to inform the stakeholders from SEE on the developments registered at European level »Raise awareness of decision makers on the importance of including EQF in the political agenda »Working with the donors and lobbying for assistance to be offered to the relevant institutions in the region to work on NQF and EQF »Continue to bring at regional level the best practices and initiatives developed at national level

12. ERI SEE activities and documents: www.erisee.org