SECURITY COOPERATION
 

Overall security and political stability have greatly improved in South East Europe in the past decade. Six countries are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and five participate in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme. Three countries are members of the EU, which plays its own role through its security structures and European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) activities. However, there is a need to build administrative capacity – taking into account the limited resources – in order to deal with multilateral cooperation in this area, continue Security Sector Reform, defense conversion and disaster risk reduction, as well as to continue reforms in order to meet the criteria, where applicable, for European and Euro- Atlantic integration.
 

Concerning disaster risk reduction, the fact that South East Europe is highly vulnerable to natural, and, in some cases, manmade disasters with cross- border impact enhances the rationale for strengthening cooperation in order to prevent disasters and/or deal with the effects.
 

In the area of security and defense cooperation, several regional initiatives and task forces operate in SE Europe, primarily the South East European Defense Ministerial - SEDM and the Southeast Europe Clearinghouse – SEEC, the Centre for Security Cooperation - RACVIAC, and the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons - SEESAC. In disaster risk reduction, the main regional organisation is the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South Eastern Europe - DPPI SEE.

Enhance regional dialogue and cooperation mechanisms on security and defense issues, including development of common strategies, planning and coordination processes.

Develop a regional approach to disaster risk reduction, through participation in the European Commission Disaster Risk Reduction and Civil Protection programmes, developing networks to fight forest fires (e.g. the South East European Fire-fighting Regional Centres Network - SEEFREC), reducing liability to natural disasters and enhancing regional cooperation in dealing with hazardous materials. The European Commission will begin implementing a programme on Civil Protection Cooperation with candidate countries and potential candidates aiming at bringing them closer to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism with the prospect of full participation in the Mechanism, once the conditions are met.