Regional ownership and Implementation: Fighting Organised Crime and Corruption.

Since the adoption of the Bucharest Declaration of 18 May 2004 SEECP members have intensified efforts to achieve the specific common targets identified in this declaration. The EU COM has issued an expert assessment of the SECI Center in Bucharest to establish possibilities for much closer law enforcement cooperation between EU instutions and the Center. SP Task Forces SPOC, SPAI and Police Forum are moving forward.

WT III will discuss progress and support for work under the Bucharest Declaration. It will discuss support for the SECI Center. It will also explore how to strengthen links between regional cooperation mechanisms on law enforcement, on judicial cooperation and between public prosecutors. The WT will discuss cooperation between SP and OSCE regarding THB.

Regional Ownership and Implementation: Migration, Border Management, Visa.

With the establishment of the MARRI Regional Forum the governments of the five SaP countries have assumed leadership to implement MARRI’s objectives. The same governments are making progress within the Ohrid border management process.

WT III will discuss how the return of refugees to a sustainable situation can be further stimulated; what measures may be adopted to bring border management in SEE in line with European standards; and how more transparency and efficiency concerning visa requirements and procedures for SEE citizens can be achieved.

Regional cooperation on Security and Defence Conversion Issues.

Within SEE countries security sector reform and defence conversion are moving ahead at different speeds. There is a growing pattern of bilateral and (sub)regional cooperation, also involving bilateral and multilateral partners from outside the region. SEECP CiO will devote the SEECP MoD meeting in February/March 2005 to Defence Conversion
WT III will discuss opportunities for strengthened regional cooperation, complementary to present ad hoc cooperation.