Under the chairmanship of Albanian President Bajram Begaj, the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit is currently underway in Tirana, bringing together leaders from across Southeast Europe.
President Begaj welcomed a distinguished group of regional leaders, including Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović, Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. President Radev is set to assume the next SEECP chairmanship for the upcoming year.
Distinguished Guests and Summit Objectives
The Albanian head of state also extended a welcome to Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut, Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mihai Popşoi, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Romanian Foreign Minister Emilian Horatiu Hurezeanu, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, and Croatian State Secretary for Political Affairs Frano Matušić.
Also in attendance were Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and Silvio Gonzato, Head of the EU Delegation in Tirana.
The summit, themed “Fostering Stability and Prosperity through Regional Cooperation and EU Integration,” aims to encourage aspiring EU members, EU countries, and partners to collaborate. It seeks to reflect on the progress of this platform to move forward in the same direction in addressing common challenges.
Albania’s Leadership and Future Priorities
Albania assumed the SEECP chairmanship for the third time in 2024. This presidency follows a series of other significant diplomatic actions, including chairing the Berlin Process in 2023, the Central European Initiative, Black Sea Economic Cooperation in 2024, and MARRI (Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative) in 2024–2025.
During its recent chairmanship, Albania focused on cooperation and policies through stronger inter-regional ties, economic growth, security, and deepening cooperation in various sectors such as healthcare, culture, tourism, and education. Albania was strongly committed to ensuring that the process remained inclusive, constructive, and forward-looking.
The Southeast European Cooperation Process has proven to be a valuable platform for dialogue, strengthening regional cooperation, and maintaining the momentum of European integration. The main priorities of SEECP remain stability, economic development, and reforms for integration with the European Union.
