The CEI member countries have agreed to co-operate with the aim of establishing offices of the Ombudsman in countries where this institution does not yet exist. A Seminar on this issue is being organised by the Czech Republic and the CEI Working Group on Human Dimension for February 2000 in Prague. The CEI Working Group on Information and Media, under Austrian and Romanian co-chairmanship, has launched a program especially dedicated to strengthening independent media in SEE, comprising training programs for journalists. The Working Group co-operates in this field with the Council of Europe and other relevant organisations. Workplan The CEI Working Group on Youth Affairs, under Macedonian chairmanship, has launched in May 1999 a program of CEI projects for youth exchange, training of international youth leaders, international summer music camps and summer school for students in architecture.
Special emphasis is given to the dialogue with neighbouring countries in the region.
Workplan A micro-lending programme for refugees and local population in Albania is under study. The CEI has arranged to set up BAS offices in Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in co-operation with the EBRD and the competent UN organisations. The programme shall be extended to other countries in the region. The programme is intended to create a more favourable investment environment and to speed up the transition process. The programme can be extended and focused on the countries of the region.