South-East European Cooperation Process

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South-East European Cooperation Process
Southeast European Cooperation Process Map.svg
Members
Headquarters Sofia (SEECP PA)
Type Intergovernmental organization
MembershipFlag of Albania.svg  Albania
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia
Flag of Moldova.svg  Moldova
Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro
Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo
Leaders
 Chairmanship-in-Office
Flag of Albania.svg  Albania
Establishment
 SEECP Established
1996
 Parliamentary Assembly established
2014

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

Southeast European leaders pose for a family photo during the SEECP Summit in Istanbul, Turkey 2010 Istanbul Summit SEECP - 1.jpg
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. Representatives of the current, past, and future SEECP Chair-in-Office form a Troika to ensure the continuity of activities. [1]

Regional Cooperation Council

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was established at a 2008 meeting of foreign affairs ministers from the SEECP. The RCC consists of 46 participants made up of the SEECP countries, along with other countries and supranational organizations who are interested in the stability and development of the region. [2]

Parliamentary Assembly

The SEECP Parliamentary Assembly was established in 2014 [3] to bring together representatives from the legislatures of member states. It meets in plenary session once a year, chaired by the speaker of the legislature of the country holding the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office. [4] The work of the assembly is supported by the Regional Secretariat for Parliamentary Cooperation in South East Europe, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. [5]

Chairmanship

Presiding country is changed each year on 1 July:

Meetings held

Heads of state and government meetings
Foreign ministers meetings

See also

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References

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  2. "About Us". Regional Cooperation Council. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. https://rspcsee.org/en/pages/read/seecp-parliamentary-assembly/declaration-on-the-inauguration
  4. https://rspcsee.org/en/pages/read/seecp-pa
  5. https://rspcsee.org/en/pages/read/about-rspc-see
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  7. "__/ Hellenic Republic - Ministry of Foreign Affairs \__". www.mfa.gr. Archived from the original on 2006-03-07.
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  13. https://www.kuvendikosoves.org/Uploads/Data/Files/6/SEECP_qP5MRVchpq.pdf
  14. "CiO 2020-2021".
  15. "CiO 2021-2022".
  16. "About SEECP 2022-2023 PODGORICA CHAIRMANSHIP-IN-OFFICE | SOUTH EAST EUROPEAN COOPERATION PROCESS - SEECP 2022-2023".
  17. https://www.seecp.info/cio2023-2024
  18. https://www.seecp.info/cio-2023-2024