Documents

Topics to be discussed at the meeting of Working Table III

Fighting Organised Crime and Corruption

Since the adoption of the Bucharest Declaration on a Joint Campaign to Fight Organized Crime and Corruption in SEE of 18 May 2004, SEECP members have intensified efforts to achieve the specific common targets identified in this declaration. The European Commission has issued an expert assessment of the SECI Center in Bucharest to establish possibilities for much closer law enforcement cooperation between EU institutions 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, and 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 Trafficking Human Beings.

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.

This session 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. The 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.