The Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA)

The Southeast Europe Police Chiefs Association (SEPCA) was formed in January 2002, in Pula, Republic of Croatia. Its aim is to strengthen the regional police cooperation and coordination in the fight against organized crime by being the highest police professional network composed of Police Chiefs from Southeast Europe.

In 2007 and 2010, the SEPCA’s Statute was revised and a new Memorandum of Understanding on establishing SEPCA was signed in 2014, in Belgrade, Serbia.

According to this Memorandum of Understanding, SEPCA members are the Police organizations of Albania, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, the Republic of Srpska and Serbia.

The purpose of the Memorandum of Understanding is to strengthen police cooperation and identify the need to establish a new strategic approach in order to increase the capacity of the police in combating all forms of crime.

SEPCA promotes the development of modern police practices, experiences and methods, through the implementation of common activities, exchange of information, improvement of professional competences of police officers, gender equality and joint action to prevent and suppress all forms of organized crime.

The SEPCA Presidency is established on the principle of rotation, in accordance with the alphabetical order of the Members of SEPCA. The mandate of the Presidency is foreseen for one year and the decisions of the Presidency are taken by consensus.

During the years, SEPCA has been a strategic player and central hub for combating transnational organized crime in Southeast Europe.

As a regional initiative, SEPCA has the aim to enhance the regional police cooperation, as well as, cooperation with the EU Member States and other relevant international partners in common fields of interest such as fighting organized crime, countering terrorism, suppressing illegal migration etc.

SEPCA’s goal is to further strengthen both strategic and operational aspect of cooperation among SEPCA member states, likewise, at the regional and international level.

Download: Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing SEPCA (pdf)