On 13-14 September 2023 the 50th SEDM Coordination Committee (CC) and 49th Political-Military Steering Committee (PMSC) Meetings took place in Timisoara, Romania. RACVIAC representative in those meetings was LTC Arta Driza, Planning & Liaison Officer for SEE.
The Meetings were attended by representatives of 14 SEDM member and observer countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Türkiye, Georgia), the Commander of the SEEBRIG Multinational Brigade as well as representatives of RACVIAC, UNDP/SEESAC, USA Embassy and E-ARC. The representatives of the Moldavian Ministry of Defence also participated in the meetings.
These were the first meetings in a row under the Bucharest Chairmanship.
The Meetings were presided by the SEDM-CC/PMSC Chairperson, Director of SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat, Ms Violeta Nicolesku.
RACVIAC as an organization for cooperation and dialogue on security issues in the region continues with its commitment to strengthen cooperation between the countries of South East Europe in the area of defense, in order to support Euro-Atlantic integration of SEE countries.
RACVIAC continues to coordinate its efforts with these countries’ achievements, IOT further strengthen RACVIAC role as the leading platform for regional cooperation and networking.
RACVIAC nine (9) Members and two (2) of its associate partners are also members of SEDM. Therefore, RACVIAC participation in these meetings plays an important role in planning and designing of its activities in cooperation with regional and international organizations and initiatives, and in line with the most emergent challenges that the SEE region is facing today. During the working sessions the attendees discussed the progress achieved so far and the way ahead. The SEDM Secretariat and COMSEEBRIG Brigadier General Bilbil Bitri presented an update on the activities and results achieved since the last CC/PMSC meeting in March 2023.
RACVIAC representative provided an update on the activities conducted by RACVIAC during 2023, and future activities planned for 2024, highlighting that the Centre develops project-oriented activities tailored to the Members’ needs, working together on identifying those real needs, which aims to contribute towards enhancing the potentially beneficial role that regional integration may play in bringing the relevant countries to a cooperative equilibrium.
LTC Driza also highlighted some RACVIAC activities that reflect and address the latest threats in this region, continuing to provide support to the region in the process of implementation of relevant treaties and instruments by means of supporting the development of national policies and strategies and their implementation plans thus strengthening national and regional defense and security capacities in key sectors as well as the EU requirements in achieving the goal of full membership in European and Euro-Atlantic structures as the best way to preserve stability and security in the region.
She emphasized the intention to continue intensifying SEDM-RACVIAC cooperation to overcome the current security challenges and help all Members achieve a comprehensive solution to those challenges.
RACVIAC participation in the said meetings helps identify the most emergent challenges that the SEE region is facing today, as well as to remain updated on the current situation in the region and presents a good opportunity to create synergy and avoid duplications.
