Country Participants The Networks Publications Social Cohesion Initiative	The South East Europe (Strategic) Review on social cohesion is an important element of the programme of assistance activities for 2001 and 2002 and a contribution of the Council of Europe to the Stability Pact for South East Europe. It represents an opportunity to apply the work of the Social Cohesion Strategy within the specific context of South East Europe – in particular the work on standard-setting and access to social rights. Its primary objective is to examine the possibilities for current and future sustainable social development in the region and to outline a social agenda for achieving long-term stability and sustainable development. The activity has three specific objectives: 1) strengthen the role of the ministries with responsibilities to promote social cohesion (employment, health, housing, social protection, education) by, in particular, improving their processes of policy development (and priority-setting); 2) foster regional co-operation through the development and exchange of information, experience and good practice; 3) upgrading the legislative and policy framework of the participating states in line with mainstream European standards. The Strategic Review takes account of the principles of the Council of Europe’s approach to social cohesion; namely: a multidisciplinary approach, cross-disciplinary activities, involvement of non-governmental actors, and local level project development. The activity is open to all countries in South East Europe (both member states and non-members). At present the following sates are actively involved in the activity: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Moldova. The Council of Europe is also actively supporting the objectives of the Stability Pact for South East Europe through the Strategic Review, and in particular the promotion of co-operation between the many international organisations and donors who are present in the region. Thus, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the ILO CEET Office (Budapest), UN-Habitat, the European Training Foundation, International Organisation of Employers and the European Trade Union Confederation are actively involved in one or more aspects of the Strategic Review. In this context a special mention should also be made to the involvement of the Council of Europe Development Bank. The Bank has been associated with all aspects of the Strategic Review, as it is expected that the Strategic Review can provide it with a regional platform to raise awareness on the contribution it can make to the economic, social and political development of the region, as well as to promote its role in South East Europe.