About Bucharest SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office 2026-2027

Bucharest has assumed the Presidency of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) for the period 1 July 2026 – 30 June 2027, fully aware of the responsibility that accompanies this important regional role, particularly as one of the founding members (1996). Prior to this, Bucharest has held the Presidency of the SEECP on three occasions: March 1999–March 2000, April 2004–May 2005, and July 2013–June 2014. During its first Chairmanship, in 2000, Bucharest facilitated the signing of the Charter on Good-Neighbourly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe in Bucharest, marking a key milestone in the institutional development of the SEECP.

Building on the key achievements of previous Chairmanships, Bucharest’s overarching objective is straightforward: to ensure that regional cooperation delivers tangible results for the region’s citizens.

Bucharest Chairmanship is committed to work in close cooperation and coordination with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the operational arm of the SEECP.

Guided by the official motto ”Resilient. Connected. European”, the Bucharest SEECP Chairmanship will strategically focus its mandate on three key priority areas:

Political Dialogue: Supporting the European Union enlargement process and the gradual integration of candidates into the EU Single Market, while actively promoting the SEECP voice and interests in direct relation to the EU.
Security and Stability: Consolidating regional resilience against primary threats to stability. Special focus will be placed on countering hybrid and cyberthreats, alongside enhancing joint capabilities to respond to natural disasters and medical emergencies.
Economic and Social Development: Promoting sustainable economic growth by backing initiatives and projects agreed under the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the SEE 2030 Strategy. The Presidency will also leverage the potential of youth and civil society to consolidate democratic values, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a common European identity.

Through this presidency, Bucharest aims to strengthen regional cohesion and act as a catalyst for sustainable, secure, and EU-oriented developments across South-East Europe.

Learn More - C-i-O Priorities

Indicative Timeline for activities during Bucharest's Chairmanship-in-Office of SEECP

SEECP Summit

SEECP Summit (June 2027, Bucharest) – Presidential Administration of Romania.

Ministerial meetings

SEECP Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (June 2027, Bucharest) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

Parliamentary diplomacy

Meeting of the Standing Committee of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly.
Meeting of the General Committee on Economy, Infrastructure and Energy of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly
Meeting of the General Committee on Social Development, Education, Research and Science of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly.
Plenary Session of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly.

SEECP governance and coordination

Visit by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Amer Kapetanović, to Bucharest, 28th of July 2026;
Round table chaired by the Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair in Office of the SEECP, Oana Țoiu, and the Romanian stakeholders involved in the Bucharest CiO of the SEECP with the participation of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Amer Kapetanović, Bucharest, 28th of July 2026;
Official launch of the Bucharest SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO): Meeting of the SEECP Political Directors Committee, 9th of September 2026.
Regular meetings of the SEECP Political Directors Committee and Regional Cooperation Council Board – Bucharest/Sarajevo, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and RCC Secretariat.
RCC Annual Meeting (June 2027, Bucharest) – RCC Secretariat, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

Youth and capacity building

31st Edition of the “Nicolae Titulescu” International Courses for Young Diplomats, 13-19 September 2026, Bucharest – Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Training on „Emerging Security Challenges and Integrated Border Management in the Western Balkans: Addressing Irregular Migration and Strengthening Regional Cooperation”, 16–18 September 2026 - National College of Home Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROAID, Centre for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning.
Know-how seminars organised by the National Bank of Romania.

Sustainable development and resilience

SEE Regional Network on Disaster Risk Insurance and Risk Sharing Reunion, 27 October 2026, Bucharest - RO Authority for Financial Services (ASF) and RCC.
High-Level “Beyond GDP” Strategic Conference, Spring 2027, Bucharest – Department for Sustainable Development of the Romania Government and RCC.
South-East European Resilience Challenge - Table Top Exercise on Complex Crisis Simulation, Bucharest – RO Euro-Atlantic Resilience Center and RCC.

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