News

The annual South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) meeting was held in person on the 4th of November in Skopje.Representatives of the SEDM Nations, SEEBRIG HQ and representatives of UNDP/SEESAC, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), RACVIAC and European Union participated. The meeting was presided by the SEDM Chairman Mr. Plamen YORDANOV, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman stressed on the importance of the Ministerial meeting as the forum for high-level officials to discuss current regional security issues and concerns. Moreover, Mr. YORDANOV expressed his confidence in the future of the process and its consolidation as one of the most important regional mechanisms for cooperation and highlighted that such events contribute to the regional security and stability based on the principle “ It’s much better to know each other, before we need each other”.

Ms. Radmila SHEKERINSKA, Minister of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia, gave a key note speech, in which she addressed the immediate challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the looming threats such as climate change, disinformation and the digitization of conflicts and crises. Furthermore, she underlined that cooperation and partnership are essential for the nations in order to thrive and be resilient.

Following the update on the latest developments on SEDM-CC projects and PMSC activities, given by Mr. YORDANOV, the Commander of the South-Eastern Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) Brigadier General Aristeidis ILIOPOULOS reviewed the Brigade’s activities since the last SEDM Ministerial meeting in 2020 and presented the documents to be approved by the MPFSEE Nations.

During the meeting, the SEDM nations’ Ministers and their representatives expressed their national views and commitment to the SEDM Process, thus contributing to the importance of the Initiative as acrucial format for regional cooperation.

In the closing remarks the SEDM Chairman congratulated Ms. Radmila SHEKERINSKA for the successful organization of the Ministerial in these unprecedented circumstances.

The full joint statement is available here.

The South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial (SEDM) meeting has been performed on 14th October 2020, via Video Teleconference, using the SEDM Portal.

Deputy Ministers of Defence/representatives from 13 SEDM Nations, SEEBRIG Commander and representatives from RACVIAC, RCC and UNDP SEESAC participated in the Meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence of Albania/Chairman of SEDM-CC/PMSC Secretariat, H.E. Mr. Petro KOÇI and Deputy Minister of National Defense of Greece H.E. Mr. Alkiviadis STEFANIS.

The SEDM Chairman H.E. Mr. Petro KOÇI and H.E. Mr. Alkiviadis STEFANIS opened the Meeting and delivered their speeches underlining the importance of the moment.

In the beginning, SEDM Chairman addressed the impact and the challenges posed by COVID-19 virus as a global health crisis and expressed that our thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims, and with all those who suffers from the pandemic.

SEDM Chairman gave a rundown on the latest developments on SEDM-CC Projects and PMSC activities since the last SEDM Ministerial Meeting highlighting the achievements obtained within the SEDM process under the Albanian Chairmanship. 

COMSEEBRIG, Brigadier General Aristeidis ILIOPOULOS, gave an update on SEEBRIG’s activities since the last SEDM Ministerial meeting and presented the documents to be approved by Deputy Ministers of Defence of MPFSEE Nations.

Deputy Ministers of Defence and representatives from SEDM Nations welcomed the achievements of SEEBRIG Brigade and acknowledged the contribution of this Brigade as important tool for promoting regional security, stability, cooperation and fostering good neighborly relations among countries in the region.

SEDM nation’s representatives expressed their views on the future of SEDM Initiative and underlined that SEDM Initiative has strengthened the relations between the countries and has contributed to their efforts for a common European and Euro-Atlantic future.

The representatives reiterated their commitment to further strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of this initiative through increased co-operation between member nations and through specific projects within this initiative.

At the end, the Deputy Ministers of Defence/representatives approved the “Joint Statement” of the Ministers of Defense of the SEDM member nations.

Finally, the nations expressed their appreciation to Athens and SEDM Portal Technical Working and to the SEDM Secretariat for the tireless efforts in successfully preparing and conducting the annual SEDM Ministerial Meeting via Video Teleconference.

The full joint statement is available here.