Security Sector Reform Pillar

Taking into consideration the fact that the SEE region has faced many challenges in the Security Sector Reform in recent times, new ways and many steps will be required in order to modernize and make the military more reliable for the benefits of the civil society. One of the most essential and most critical steps is the restructuring, reorganizing and downsizing of the armed forces. In support of this Defense Conversion process, RACVIAC took over a new role with the aim to introduce in more detail the afore-mentioned process to the region and to find better approaches to these issues. The Multinational Advisory Group (MAG), as the decision-making body of RACVIAC, decided to respond positively to the Bucharest Declaration of the Ministers of Defense of SEECP countries by expanding RACVIAC’s scope activities and work into the field of Defence Conversion, now named Security Sector Reform Pillar.


First Working Groups meeting in RACVIAC, 04 - 07 December 2005		Workshop on retraining and resettlement of military personnel , 05 - 09 November 2007		Human Resources Management Workshop in Cooperation with the Netherlands Defence College was held in RACVIAC Centre from 24th to 28th November 2008

The Security Sector Reform Pillar is trying to grasp the problems and real needs of the region in order to find the best course of action to make conversion a guided process. TheSecurity Sector Reform Pillar is divided into three Working Groups, which tasks include to develop regional support networks, concentrate know-how on Defence Conversion and promote an integrated donors approach as follows:

Working Group 1 (WG1) - on retraining and resettlement of military personnel
Working Group 2 (WG2) - on the conversion of former military bases and facilities
Working Group 3 (WG3) - on restructuring redundant military industries by downsizing or restructuring into civilian use,

with the following aims:

To share experience on national defence conversion processes with regional and international partners in order to facilitate the identification of areas for cooperation among ourselves and with international partners.
To avoid duplication of efforts and contribute to achieving a more integrated approach between international partners.
To strengthen networks among regional and international partners interested in practical cooperation on specific conversion aspects and to stimulate further interest from bilateral and multilateral donors.

The task of Security Sector Reform Pillar are following:

Collection and dissemination of conversion related data
To organize Working Group Meetings/Seminars
To provide governments, upon request, with support on DC issues
To conduct studies (in cooperation with other institutes) on various aspects of defence conversion, including lessons learned
To assist governments, upon request, in the preparation of project proposals which require external funding
To communicate and co-operate with other organizations active in the field of defence conversion to avoid possible duplication
To develop standards for evaluating defence conversion projects
To liaise with all stakeholders to secure synergy in projects
To enhance coordination, avoid competition


		LtCol Davor KIRALJ, HR, Subject Matter Expert on Transition of Military Personel (temporarily Programme Manager for Security Sector Reform Pillar)		LtCol Sergiu RAILEAN, MD, Subject Matter Expert on Military Base Conversion		Capt Mehmed HALILOVIĆ, BA, Subject Matter Expert on Military Base Conversion