NATO HQ, Brussels Dec. 2001

Concept paper on Romania's SEEGROUP Chairmanship in 2002 Romania assumes in 2002 the chairmanship of SEEGROUP (South East Europe Security Cooperation Steering Group) at a time when the prospects of a stable and prosperous South East Europe have never been better. For the first time in history all SEE countries have democratically elected governments. With a few countries already NATO members, others making vigorous bids for NATO membership and the rest engaged in active cooperation processes with NATO or the European Union, the security situation in the region is improving. Regional countries engagement and international assistance will continue to be crucial for the consolidation of this positive trend in South East Europe. Key features of the Romanian Chairmanship of SEEGROUP will be project-oriented management, close co-ordination with other SEE-related initiatives, and focus on practical results. A very important feature will be making full use of the facilitating role provided by NATO's International Secretariat, especially in areas such as defence and security reform or regional cooperation among all South-Eastern European countries. Objectives Enhance SEEGROUP's role in South East Europe - as a taskforce group activating in the NATO environment - to facilitate the management of various security and defence related initiatives and projects. Enhance SEEGROUP's connectivity with other regional initiatives. Enhance SEEGROUP's response in real-time events. Increase SEEGROUP's visibility and political marketing. Contribute to the consolidation of a SEE security and defence community. Possible ways and means Enhance SEEGROUP role Increase internal visibility within the region: highlight the value-added by SEEGROUP to reform processes in defence and security; highlight practical outputs and successes; underline opportunity for close co-operation with NATO and Stability Pact. Improve working modalities: keep group flexible and informal; focus on regional ownership, and partnership with international organizations and NATO allies/partners. Enhance relations with NATO and NATO allies and partners: undertake MAP or defence reform related projects; every two-months briefings to NATO or EAPC fora. Keep close contact with other SEE-related initiatives/organizations (SEDM, SECI, SEECP etc.). Exchange information with authorities or similar initiatives from other regions (Baltic region, Caucasus, Central Asia). Concentrate on pragmatic developments Enhance SEEGROUP connectivity Establish concrete liaison and cooperation for the management of fields/projects in SEE. Frequent stocktaking of activities developed by other initiatives. Identify gaps in the global picture of the regional cooperation and propose possible remedies. Explore possibilities for electronic networking within the region. Enhance SEEGROUP real-time response Consult every time an event occurs. Issue statements on possible practical ways to approach the respective event in the region. Enhance SEEGROUP visibility and political marketing Briefings by the Chairmanship to meetings of International Organizations and SEE-related initiatives. Cross-representation at senior level meetings of SEE-related initiatives. Participation to seminars and workshops by representatives of SEEGROUP. Adoption of a logo.