in order to address challenges of the 21 st century for sav- ing lives, improving survival, healthy life years and qual- ity of life, as well as reducing health inequalities. The New Public Health Ethics principles are: equity, par- ticipation, solidarity, subsidiarity, sustainability, compre- hensiveness, universality, efficiency, justice and peace [1]. Public health professionals and high level decision-makers are no longer the only relevant actors in dealing with population health, it is rather a multi-disciplinary group including researchers, institutional decision-makers, other professionals, civil society, and the private sector [4]. B ACKGROUND OF THE INITIATIVE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH COOPERATION IN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE Several initiatives, activities and documents at European and international level have created a positive environ- ment for international New Public Health Movement and Promotion of the New Public Health in Europe and in South Eastern Europe. Among them the most important are: I NTRODUCTION The modern concept and philosophy of public health, the “New Public Health”, covers not only the classical hygiene and the epidemiology of the infec- tious diseases, but also well-known non- communicable disease risk factors and socio- economic determinants of health [1]. While the “Old Public Health” was mainly concerned with environmental sanitation, safety of food, air and water, targeted infections, toxic, and traumatic causes of death, the New Public Health is a synthesis of classi- cal public health, interacting with the biomedical, clini- cal and social sciences, economics and technology assessment, and experience of the health systems to- ward universal health care, management of personal services and community action, for a holistic approach to health and illness and risk factors for disease [2]. The New Public Health is concerned with action and seeks to address issues like equitable access to health care ser- vices, the environment, political governance and social and economic development [3]. Contemporary concept and core subjects of the New Public Health are very comprehensive. The New Public Health is a philosophy, conceptual approach and art of possible, a field of knowledge and practice combining the biomedical and social aspects of health and diseases with the health technology, health systems organization and management, and health promotion. The new concept is research and action oriented for application and reorientation of public health thinking toward primary prevention and health pro- motion, changes in management of the health systems and other resources of society, as well as training public health practitioners, students and people in the sense that public health is essential to civil societies, both local and global. The New Public Health identifies feasible strategies PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS. RESEARCH 26 Management in health XIV/3/2010; pp. 26-31 Aim: To document the contribution of the Public Health Cooperation in South Eastern Europe (PH-SEE) Project during 2000-2010, to the development of the New Public Health in SEE. Methods: Critical analysis of the project activities and outcomes based on the relevant documents, Internet sources and published literature, as well as personal experience and observations of the authors as active contributors to the PH-SEE Network activities. Facts and findings: Within the last 10 years South Eastern Europe (SEE) countries have been experiencing a kind of renaissance or revolution of public health in their region. There has been undergoing profound changes with raising awareness, capacity building in public health and health management, and preparing target-oriented public health practitioners, researchers, health policy analysts and managers for health care institutions. A strong network for long- term cooperation was established among public health institutions and professionals in the SEE region. Advancements in the teaching and research in public health and analysis/ formulation of national health policies were followed by curriculum development for Master in Public Health and establishment of Public Health postgraduate education programmes/centres/schools of public health in almost each country in the SEE region. Among the most tangible outcomes of the Project were the handbooks for teachers, researchers and public health professionals. Six volumes were published so far, and the seventh one will be published next year, 2011. Conclusion: The PH-SEE project has been a real success, not only in terms of achieving its goals related to public health development in the region by raising training and research capacity, but also in terms of inter-country cooperation, getting in the line with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe main goal of strengthening the efforts of the countries of the region in fostering peace, democracy, respect for human rights and economic prosperity. Key words: public health networking, Master in public health, public health research, Forum for Public Health in South Eastern Europe CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW PUBLIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE, 2000 EASTERN EUROPE, 2000 EASTERN EUROPE, 2000- 2 0 10 2 0 10 2010 Prof. Doncho M. DONEV 1 , MD, PhD, Adriana GALAN 2 , IT Specialist Silvia Gabriela SCINTEE 3 , MD 1 Institute of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University “Ss Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia 2 National Institute of Public Health, Bucharest, Romania 3 National School of Public Health, Management and Professional Development, Bucharest