Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe (SEE) was the focus of DCAF’s activities during the early years of the Centres’ development and remains a key region of activity.
All SEE countries are members of DCAF’s Foundation Council.
DCAF works with governments, parliaments, security providers and civil society organisations in the region to help ensure the efficient, effective, responsible and accountable provision of security and to strengthen democratic security sector governance. With assistance programmes which support both domestic reforms and regional cooperation, DCAF contributes to stability in SEE and supports SEE countries’ integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. To improve delivery of DCAF’s services in the region, the Centre has maintained a regional office in Ljubljana since 2008.
DCAF’s assists states in the SEE region by:
- providing advice on security policies, structures and practices
- strenghtening parliamentary and other forms of oversight of the security sector
- supporting the drafting and implementation of security sector legislation
- designing and delivering capacity-building and training programmes
- building the skills of security sector professionals and emerging elites
- monitoring security sector reforms and promoting good practices
- supporting regional security cooperation initiatives
Primary examples of this work include supporting:
- Police reform and regional police cooperation, in particular, supporting the implementation of the Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe ratified by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.
- Integrated Border management through work on issues such as legal reform; risk analysis; intelligence and criminal investigation; logistical support; leadership and management; education and training; and European integration. DCAF also designs and implements training for border security personnel, particularly regional and station commanders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine.
- Capacity building for parliamentary staff advisers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo
- the capacity of civil society organisations in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo to interact with the security sector, government and the media on security sector oversight issues.
- A comprehensive capacity building programme for mid- and senior level officials in the Serbian Ministry of the Interior and Police directorate.
- Gender mainstreaming, awareness-raising and evaluation activities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia.
