South-East European Cooperation Process

The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) was launched on Bulgaria's initiative in 1996. At the Bulgaria-chaired meeting in Sofia, the Southeast Europe (SEE) countries laid the foundations for regional co-operation for the purposes of creating an atmosphere of trust, good neighbourly relations and stability.

South-East European Cooperation Process member states

A special characteristic of SEECP is that it is an original form of co-operation among the countries in the region launched on their own initiative, and not on the initiative of some other international organisation or countries. In that regard, the SEECP seeks to define itself as an authentic voice of SEE, complementary to the Stability Pact, Southeast European Cooperative Initiative or the Stabilisation and Association Process.

The basic goals of regional co-operation within SEECP include the strengthening of security and the political situation, intensification of economic relations and co-operation in the areas of human resources, democracy, justice, and battle against illegal activities. It is the intention of the SEECP to enable its members to approach the European and Euro-Atlantic structures through the strengthening of good neighbourly relations and transformation of the region into an area of peace and stability.

Membership
Southeast European leaders pose for a family photo during the SEECP Summit in Istanbul, Turkey

Structure

The SEECP is a regional non-institutionalised process co-ordinated by the presiding country. The SEECP presidency lasts for one year and is rotated among the members. The presiding country presents the Process at international meetings and hosts the annual meeting of heads of state and government, foreign ministers meeting and a number of annual meetings of political directors. Depending on the situation, the presiding country may call extraordinary meetings.

Regional Cooperation Council

The Regional Cooperation Council was established at a 2008 meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the SEECP. The organization was founded by SEECP participants and is funded in part by the European Union to further promote European integration and cooperation. The RCC is led by a Secretary-General, currently Majlinda Bregu and consists of 46 participants. Participants are made up of the SEECP countries, along with other countries and supranational organizations who are interested in the stability and development of the region.[1] A major project of the RCC is the development of the Regional Economic Area (REA), to better integrate South East European economies. The status of the REA has been uncertain with competing integration projects like the 2019 “mini-Schengen” agreement.[2]

Chairmanship

Presiding country is changed each year:

  • 1996–97, Bulgaria
  • 1997–98, Greece
  • 1998–99, Turkey
  • 1999–2000, Romania
  • 2000–01, Republic of North Macedonia
  • 2001–02, Albania
  • 2002–03, Serbia and Montenegro
  • 2003–04, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • April 2004 – May 2005, Romania[3]
  • May 2005 – May 2006, Greece[4]
  • May 2006 – May 2007, Croatia[5]
  • May 2007 – May 2008, Bulgaria
  • 2008–09, Moldova
  • 2009–10, Turkey[6]
  • 2010–11, Montenegro
  • 2011–12, Serbia
  • 2012–13, Republic of North Macedonia[7]
  • 2013–14, Romania
  • 2014–15, Albania[8]
  • 2015-16, Bulgaria
  • 2016-17, Croatia
  • 2017-18, Slovenia[9]
  • 2018-19, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • 2019-20, Kosovo
  • 2020-21, Turkey

Meetings held

Heads of state and government meetings:

Foreign ministers meetings:

See also

References
  1. "About Us". Regional Cooperation Council. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  2. Maksimović, Sandra (6 March 2020). "What happened to the "mini-Schengen"?". European Western Balkans. Centre for Contemporary Politics. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. http://www.mae.ro/seecp/
  4. http://www.mfa.gr/seecp/
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-01-05. Retrieved 2007-01-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. http://www.seecp-turkey.org
  7. "UN General Assembly General Debate of the 67th Session - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Gadebate.un.org. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  8. http://www.punetejashtme.gov.al/en/mission/seecp
  9. https://english.sta.si/2269552/slovenia-to-preside-over-seecp-in-2017
  1. Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008. Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognized as an independent state by 98 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 113 UN member states recognized Kosovo at some point, of which 15 later withdrew their recognition.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.