Balgarianovinite.com The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit took place in Sofia on Wednesday. Bulgaria’s President Iliana Iotova welcomed the heads of delegations attending the Summit at the National Palace of Culture, as the forum marked the 30th anniversary of SEECP’s establishment.
Among the participants at the forum were Slovenia’s President Natasa Pirc Musar, Albania’s President Bajram Begaj, Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatovic, North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Kosovo’s acting President Albulena Haxhiu, Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Chair Denis Becirovic, Moldova’s Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, Serbia’s Prime Minister Duro Macut, Greece’s Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlic-Radman, and Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu.
At the event, the Bulgarian head of State said the SEECP had become a key platform for regional cooperation, European integration and stability. According to the President, South-East Europe is of strategic importance for the stability and prosperity of Europe and should strengthen connectivity, economic cooperation and resilience against security threats. She said the region had the potential to become a key hub for energy diversification and transport links.
After the Summit, Iotova, Albanian President Bajram Begaj and Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu gave a joint press conference. Albania held the previous SEECP Chairmanship, while Romania assumed the next one.
President Iliana Iotova said that Bulgaria will continue working to ensure that Southeast Europe becomes the region in Europe and the world that is most connected and integrated. She noted that 30 years ago, Bulgaria established the SEECP and, three decades later, the format proved to be important, as over the years, a lot was achieved. Iotova expressed confidence that under Romania’s Chairmanship, the SEECP will continue to strengthen its role as an important platform for regional cooperation and the European perspective of the region.
Albanian President Bajram Begaj stressed that there is a clear understanding that deepening cooperation among Southeast European countries is necessary. “Our cooperation in the region has concrete results – we are seeing progress in facilitating trade and the movement of people and goods,” he pointed out. Begaj also highlighted the need for successful integration in terms of digital connectivity. According to him, the meeting in Sofia continues these efforts.
Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Toiu outlined the priorities of Romania’s Chairmanship: the common regional market, security and the European integration of the countries of the region. She stressed that youth development will also be a key focus. “Young people will have a leading role. It is important that their interests are heard,” Toiu said. She reported that Romania will work to ensure that the voice of the countries of Southeast Europe is heard in Europe, including in discussions on the European Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework. Economic and social development will also be among the Chairmanship’s priorities, she added.
Acting President of Kosovo Albulena Haxhiu discussed with Iotova opportunities for deepening bilateral relations in numerous areas. An agreement on defence cooperation is set to be signed.
The SEECP is a regional platform for dialogue aimed at building trust, cooperation, and good-neighbourly relations in Southeast Europe. It was launched in July 1996 in Sofia, when foreign ministers from eight countries in the region adopted the Sofia Declaration on Good Neighborly Relations, Stability, Security, and Cooperation in the Balkans. Over the years, the number of participating countries has grown to 13: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Turkiye, Croatia, and Montenegro, according to the Bulgarian President’s Press Secretariat. Romania Assumes South-East European Cooperation Process Chairmanship at Summit in Sofia 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-10 18:38:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law