3rd Chairman of the JCC :: Brief history :: About SECI

During the last fourteen years trans-border crime in South-Eastern Europe has increased substantially and went beyond the national borders of the countries in the region. Despite the numerous efforts made to counter it, the international co-operation of law enforcement authorities could not keep up with the international co-operation of criminals, which was always a step ahead of the law.

As a result of the co-operation between the states, much information is created, but it does not reach where and when it is needed. This information and the accumulated knowledge are dispersed among the member states of the EU and the countries of South-Eastern Europe.

Therefore, international cooperation between law enforcement agencies acquired extreme importance, and came to underline the fact that such problems have a strong impact on international trade, they jeopardize the security of not only the Western Balkan region, but of the rest of the European continent as well, and slow down the development and stabilization processes of the countries located in their path. The first step to change this situation was the establishment, at both political and law enforcement level, of a mechanism for cooperation between Southeast and Western Europe.

The goal of SECI Regional Center for Combating Transborder Crime is to achieve a unified response from its Member Countries with regard to fighting and eradicating organized criminal groups which operate within or beyond the region. In the investigation and prosecution of tranborder crime, and especially in the case of organized criminal activities, it is imperative to develop a common policy, for the purpose of enhanced cooperation among the SECI Member countries.

Organized transborder crime is a global challenge which requires a global response. A few years ago it was simply a dream to bring all the countries of this region together, to have them join efforts and exchange information. This unbelievable dream came true and the SECI Regional Center is currently the only existing institutionalised law enforcement cooperation in the region.

I strongly believe that its capacity will be further developed and increasingly used for combating criminal groups, in a common effort with all European states.