Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

South East European Cooperation Process

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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.

Contents

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

  • Founding members:
  •  Albania
  •  Bosnia and Herzegovina
  •  Bulgaria
  •  Greece
  •  Republic of Macedonia
  •  Romania
  •  Serbia (joined as Serbia and Montenegro)
  •  Turkey
  • Joined later:
  •  Croatia (2005)
  •  Moldova (2006)
  •  Montenegro (2007)
  •  Slovenia (2010)
  •  Kosovo (2014)
  • 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.

    Chairmanship

    Presiding country is changed each year:

  • 1996–97, Bulgaria
  • 1997–98, Greece
  • 1998–99, Turkey
  • 1999–2000, Romania
  • 2000–01, Republic of Macedonia
  • 2001–02, Albania
  • 2002–03, Serbia and Montenegro
  • 2003–04, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • April 2004 – May 2005, Romania
  • May 2005 – May 2006, Greece
  • May 2006 – May 2007, Croatia
  • May 2007 – May 2008, Bulgaria
  • 2008–09, Moldova
  • 2009–10, Turkey
  • 2010–11, Montenegro
  • 2011–12, Serbia
  • 2012–13, Republic of Macedonia
  • 2013–14, Romania
  • 2014–15, Albania
  • 2015-16, Bulgaria
  • 2016-17, Croatia
  • 2017-18, Slovenia
  • Meetings held

    Heads of state and government meetings:

  • 2–4 November 1997, Crete
  • 12–13 October 1998, Antalya
  • 12 February 2000, Bucharest
  • 25 October 2000, Skopje (extraordinary meeting)
  • 23 February 2001, Skopje
  • 28 March 2002, Tiranë
  • 9 April 2003, Belgrade
  • 21 April 2004, Sarajevo
  • 11 May 2005, Bucharest
  • 4 May 2006, Thessaloniki
  • 11 May 2007, Zagreb
  • 21 May 2008, Pomorie
  • 5 June 2009, Chişinău
  • 21–23 June 2010, Istanbul
  • 1 June 2013, Ohrid (cancelled)
  • 25 June 2014, Bucharest
  • 26 May 2015, Tiranë
  • 1 June 2016, Sofia
  • Foreign ministers meetings:

  • 6–7 July 1996, Sofia
  • 5–6 June 1997, Thessaloniki
  • 8–9 June 1998, Istanbul
  • 19 March 1999, Bucharest
  • 2 December 1999, Bucharest
  • 14 July 2000, Ohrid
  • 16 May 2001, Tiranë
  • 19 June 2002, Belgrade
  • 9 June 2003, Sarajevo
  • 22 October 2004, Bucharest
  • 24 January 2006, Athens
  • 1 March 2007, Zagreb
  • 14 June 2012, Belgrade
  • 22 May 2015, Tiranë
  • References

    South-East European Cooperation Process Wikipedia