SEECP Parliamentary Assembly Standing Сommittee 15th April 2026, Sofia
Distinguished Members of the Parliaments of
the SEECP Participants,Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As of 1 July 2025, Sofia took over the Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) with full recognition of its significance and responsibility with а deep sense of commitment to regional unity, stability, and progress. Our goal was and still is clear – to make Southeast Europe а region of cooperation, resilience, and shared prosperity.
The SEECP has always been а home-grown initiative – created by the region in 1996 in Sofia, for the region. Over the years, it has become an essential platform for dialogue, trust-building, and result-oriented collaboration. Sofia remains deeply committed to strengthening this unique regional framework and ensuring that it continues to serve as а cornerstone of peace and partnership in Southeast Europe.
Under the motto “Compass towards stability, security and sustainability” Sofia C-i-O focuses on а set of strategic priorities that reflect both the challenges and the aspirations of our region today.
One of the main priorities refers to the European future of Southeast Europe and we therefore work actively to advance the European integration of all SEECP Participants, fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation that support reform efforts and good-neighbor relations. This process must remain based on the own merits of each participant, ensuring that progress is driven by commitment to democratic values, the rule of law, and the implementation of necessary reforms. The European path of our region is not only а political objective but also а transformative process that drives democratic progress, economic modernization, and social cohesion. Sofia will continue to be а strong advocate for keeping this perspective high on the regional and European agenda.
Another key element of our efforts is to enhance the competitiveness of our economies and to invest in human capital. The people of South east Europe, especially the young generation – are the region’s greatest asset. Ву investing in their education, skills, and creativity, we can unlock new sources of growth and innovation. During our Chairmanship-in-Office, Sofia promotes initiatives that foster competitiveness and human capital development, in the context of digital transformation and innovation through research, digitalization and new technologies.
Equally important for our common progress is regional connectivity, energy sustainability, and sustainable economic growth. Connectivity, in all its forms, is а foundation for stability and prosperity. We work to improve transport, digital, and energy links across the region, strengthening the infrastructure that connects us.
In parallel, Sofia focuses on strengthening resilience and countering hybrid threats. In а rapidly changing global environment, our societies face complex risks – from disinformation to cyberattacks; to natural disasters and disruptions to energy and supply chains. Building resilience means enhancing our capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from such challenges. It requires close coordination among institutions, а well-informed public, and strong regional solidarity. Through dialogue and cooperation within the SEECP, we aim to develop collective approaches that safeguard our citizens and demographic values.
These four interrelated priorities represent а comprehensive approach to ensuring long-term stability and security in Southeast Europe and perfectly reflects Sofia’s vision for its SEECP C-i-O.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The challenges before us are real, but so are the opportunities. Ву acting together, we can make Southeast Europe а region of pеасе, connectivity, and innovation – а region that contributes actively to the future of Europe as а whole. Sofia stands ready to continue working with all SEECP Participants to turn this shared vision into reality.
With the expansion of regional cooperation, we reaffirm the importance of а strong and active al\-inclusive parliamentary dimension as an integral part of the SEECP architecture.
The joint SEE 2030 Strategy acknowledges the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP as а key platform for dialogue and exchange among regional parliamentary bodies, contributing to mutual understanding, democratic consolidation, and further alignment with EU legislative standards and practices.
Sofia Chairmanship-in-Office supports the activities of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly and recognises that close cooperation between the SEECP and its Parliamentary Assembly advances regional reforms and strengthens parliamentary democracy across the region.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the SEECP in 2026, we have the chance to reflect on what has been accomplished and to chart the way forward. It is an opportunity to assess our achievements, reiterate our commitments, and set future goals.
In this regard, а forward-looking Declaration on the occasion of the SEECP 30th Anniversary is going to be endorsed by the Heads of State and Government on 10 th of June in Sofia. The Declaration acknowledges the profound transformation our region has undergone over the past three decades, marked by reconciliation, cooperation and progressive integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic community. The important role of the Parliamentary Assembly will be accordingly acknowledged.
Thank you.
Mr. Ivaylo Iordanov, Head of the Regional Cooperation Department of the South-East Europe Directorate
Speech by Ms. Iliana Zhekova 14th April 2026, Sofia
The topic we chose for our discussion – “Strengthening the role of the Bureau/Troika in order to ensure continuity in the work of the presidencies and monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP” – was set as a task for our work at the plenary session in Tirana by the Chair of the National Assembly, Ms. Natalia Kiselova.
In her statement upon assuming the presidency, she said: “We will strive for maximum continuity with the work of the organization during the Albanian presidency and will actively work with the Bureau/Troika.”
Already in Rule 4, where the bodies of the Parliamentary Assembly are listed, the Bureau is placed immediately after the Chair and before the Standing Committee. It is specified that the chairs of the parliaments of the previous and the upcoming presidencies act as vice-chairs of the Assembly, and that the task of this body is to coordinate the organization’s activities. Moreover, the founders envisaged that this coordination would be carried out through the direct participation of the Troika in the meetings of the Standing Committee, which in turn is tasked with ensuring the effectiveness and continuity of the Assembly’s work between sessions. It is clear that the Troika is conceived as a guarantor of continuity in our activities between successive presidencies, for the implementation of decisions taken at plenary sessions, as well as for the development of guidelines and recommendations set out in the annual declarations.
Furthermore, the Rules explicitly state that the Parliamentary Assembly will work toward achieving certain goals, one of which is Rule 2 – “Encouraging, monitoring and overseeing the objectives and tasks set by the rotating presidency…”
Does this happen in practice? Where and why is the link between successive presidencies broken? How can the Troika begin to fulfill its functions? These are the questions we need to consider and identify the causes.
A review of the situation since the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly shows that there have been two cases in which the Troika was “activated,” so to speak.
The first case was during the Albanian presidency in 2014/2015, when the Working Group, created to prepare the rules and the budget of the Parliamentary Assembly, decided that the draft budget should be prepared by the Troika at the time and submitted for the opinions of the national delegations. This task was successfully completed by the then Bureau (Bucharest, Tirana, Sofia). Nevertheless, no additional opinions were expressed on the draft budget, and the issue was not included on the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly.
The second case occurred in 2016, at the end of the Bulgarian presidency. At that time, Belgrade and Pristina expressed a desire to host two of the committees, with Belgrade officially objecting to Pristina chairing a committee, and in response, Pristina objecting to Belgrade hosting. This meant that it was not possible to select hosts for these committees for the following period. In search of a solution, amendments were made during the adoption of the Parliamentary Assembly’s Work Programme, providing for consultations at the Bureau level in the short term to find a solution. The next Chair of the Parliamentary Assembly, Dr. Željko Reiner, Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, sent a letter to his colleagues from the Troika and consultations began. Through dialogue, a solution acceptable to all was found, according to which the meetings would be held in the country holding the presidency—namely in the parliament in Zagreb—while rapporteurs would come respectively from the parliaments in Belgrade and Pristina.
Although we have only two examples, they show that the Bureau can effectively resolve issues that cannot be settled within a single meeting, even at a plenary session, and that the authority of the Troika guarantees the implementation of consensus-based decisions in the interest of our common work.
Unfortunately, in the following years, the Parliamentary Assembly did not seek continuity, and the presidencies increasingly acted independently, while decisions taken at plenary sessions were neglected.
As examples, we can point to texts from the Declaration adopted in Tirana in 2015:
“To strive for coordination, where appropriate, with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Directorates-General within the European Commission on issues related to the functioning of the joint committees of the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP.”
Another example is from the Sofia Declaration of 2016, where specific recommendations were outlined:
“4. Welcomes the meeting held on 21 March 2016 between the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of …”
The European Parliament, as a first step in efforts to build permanent cooperation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP and the European Parliament;
5. Calls on the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP and the European Parliament to continue developing their cooperation with a view to establishing sustainable mechanisms for interaction and welcomes the opportunities for joint activities outlined during the aforementioned meeting:
- regular discussions or dedicated debates on various topics aimed at supporting and accelerating the EU accession process of SEECP participants;
- annual exchange of views with representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP during one of the meetings of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament within the framework of the spring session or prior to the presentation of country-specific reports;
- exchange of information and expert experience between the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP and the European Parliament / the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Furthermore, in the following declaration from Zagreb in 2017, we stated:
1. “To make additional efforts to develop proactive cooperation with the European Parliament and other relevant international and interparliamentary organizations in order to enhance the visibility and overall effectiveness of the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP.”
Another example is the declaration from Budva in 2023:
“We encourage regular exchange and further strengthening of cooperation between the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP and the European Parliament as an important step towards the implementation of the Assembly’s priorities.”
Neglecting our own decisions leads to a shift in the focus of the Assembly away from its objectives and tasks set out in the founding documents, both of the Parliamentary Assembly and of the Process as a whole, and results in the isolation of the organization within the framework of the presidency and, consequently, a lack of visibility of its activities and loss of international presence. The declarations concluding each presidency have the value of political decisions on regional cooperation adopted by consensus. The Bureau is precisely the body that guarantees this.
We now move on to the following, no less important, powers of the Bureau, namely to represent the Parliamentary Assembly in international forums, to establish contacts at the diplomatic level, etc. — Rules 7, 13 and 14:
Rule 7 – Upon invitation by the Chairperson and following consultation with the members of the Bureau of the Assembly, high-level representatives of the governments of the participating states, international organizations, representatives of the business community and civil society organizations may address the plenary session.
Rule 13 – Special guests may attend the session upon invitation by the Bureau of the Assembly, with the Bureau informing the Members of Parliament accordingly.
Rule 14 – The Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP encourages cooperation with third countries, as well as international organizations, institutions and regional initiatives interested in cooperating with it.
………
When determining the composition of the official delegations of the Parliamentary Assembly of the SEECP participating in the work of other international parliamentary assemblies, priority shall be given to representatives of the Troika.
The rules clearly show that the Bureau plays a key role in the parliamentary diplomacy of the Assembly, which is entirely natural—international contacts and participation should be carried out on behalf of all participants in the Parliamentary Assembly.
Dear colleagues,
This brief overview shows that since the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly, despite some positive examples of the Troika’s participation in the PA’s activities, this body as a whole has not managed to assume the role and importance assigned to it by its Rules of Procedures. We have presented these problems so that we can jointly find solutions. In this regard,
our delegation would like to propose for discussion certain opportunities to strengthen the role of the Troika, so that this body can begin to contribute actively and positively to the work of the PA.
We believe that the PA should ensure:
- Active communication within the Bureau (Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons of the PA) regarding the implementation of decisions and recommendations from adopted declarations, including the possibility of holding meetings in a trilateral format;
- Active communication within the Bureau in ad hoc situations in the region and in Europe, coordination of statements, communiqués, positions, etc. on behalf of the PA. Participation in the European agenda on current and conceptual topics, which is a practice in a number of interparliamentary organizations;
- Coordination by the Bureau of the work of the committees (Rule 4), in order to avoid precedents where a given committee cannot function, for example due to early elections, early dissolution of a parliament, or other reasons;
In conclusion, I am pleased to announce that we already have a fully constituted Troika, as Bucharest is the next Chair of the SEECP.