The Regional Expert Group for RECOM Begins its Work

The Regional Expert Group is composed of the Region’s presidents’ and B&H presidency members’ personal envoys to RECOM. The envoys’ task, formulated by Croatian President Ivo Josipović, is to analyze the RECOM Statute proposal from the perspective of the constitutional, legal and political grounds for the establishment of RECOM in each individual state.

Also taking part in the group’s activities on behalf of the RECOM Coalition and the Regional Team of Public Advocates were Midhat Izmirlija, a member of the RECOM Coalition’s Working Group, and RECOM Process Coordinator Nataša Kandić. Their task was technical in nature – to offer an accurate interpretation of the RECOM Statute Proposal as submitted by the Coalition, and to ensure that all proposals and suggestions put forth by the envoys are incorporated into the Amendments accurately and in a timely manner. On occasion, other public advocates also took part in the activities, acting purely as observers.

The envoys held a total of four meetings – two in 2013, in Zagreb on September 8^th and October 24^th, and two more in 2014, on March 8^th in Zagreb, and on May 4^th in Belgrade. At the second meeting, the envoys decided to consult with their respective presidents/B&H presidency members about the “period and scope” of the Commission’s research before submitting their final Amendments for review and approval. The envoys began their consultations in May, and they were still underway as of June of 2014. The public advocates also took an active part in these consultations.

The envoys’ mandate ended on October 28^th, 2014. Their proposed Amendments to the RECOM Statute Proposal were adopted by the RECOM Coalition at an Assembly meeting held on November 17^th, 2014.