Romania opens the SEECP Political Directors' Committee meeting under its 2026 - 2027 chairmanship

PRESS RELEASE 09 September 2026

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Secretary of State for European Affairs, Middle East and Africa Clara Staicu on Wednesday opened in Bucharest the meeting of the Political Directors' Committee of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) - the first official event hosted under Romania's chairmanship-in-office (1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027).

Discussions focused on the priorities and calendar of Romania's chairmanship, conclusions from Bulgaria's previous term, the rotation mechanism of SEECP presidencies, and the work of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), SEECP's operational arm.

Staicu outlined Romania's priorities under the motto "Resilient. Connected. European." - political dialogue and support for EU enlargement, strengthening regional stability and security, and economic and social development. She stressed Bucharest's aim to pursue a "pragmatic agenda" built around initiatives that deliver concrete benefits for the region, noting that this vision also guides Romania's 2026 presidency of the Central European Initiative, which offers "a unique opportunity to connect the agendas of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and turn regional cooperation into tangible results."

She welcomed the RCC's role in advancing regional projects, particularly those linked to the South-East Europe 2030 Strategy, the regional common market, the green agenda, mobility agreements, and the regional roaming accord.

Staicu also reiterated Romania's support for EU enlargement toward both the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, through a transparent and rigorous process. She condemned the repeated violations of the airspace of Romania, Moldova, and other European states by Russian drones/UAVs, and reaffirmed Romania's full support for Ukraine and Moldova, which she said are facing pressure on multiple fronts.

The opening session also featured remarks by Amer Kapetanovic, Secretary-General of the Regional Cooperation Council.