The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) was initiated in 1996 at the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SEECP held in Sofia, and the first SEECP Summit was held in Crete in 1997.
 
As the only regional cooperation forum that includes 13 participants in South East Europe (which are also participants in the Regional Cooperation Council - RCC Board), all already members or with the perspective of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, SEECP remains the most comprehensive format in the region on enhancing good-neighborly relations and promoting dialogue and political, security and economic cooperation, especially in these challenging times of the continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and rising geopolitical challenges.

The Troika of the SEECP, composed of representatives of the current, past, and future SEECP Chair-in-Office, ensures the continuity of activities.
 
Bucharest assumed the Chairmanship-in-Office of the SEECP for the period July 2026 - June 2027, following the one held by Sofia. As a founding Participant of the Process, Bucharest already held 3 previous presidencies in 1999-2000, 2004-2005 and 2013-2014. 

Bucharest assumed the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office for one year on 1 July 2026.