The South-East European Cooperation Process and Its New Parliamentary Assembly: Regional Dialogue in Action

Abstract

This article analyses the contribution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (seecp) to regional dialogue among parliamentarians. First, it examines the transformation of the seecp Parliamentary Dimension into a Parliamentary Assembly (seecp pa). Second, the article analyses two case studies: the participation of Kosovo in the seecp pa; and the establishment of a Secretariat for the seecp pa. These two case studies are selected because they have given rise to intensive political dialogue, thus providing a basis for the conduct of parliamentary diplomacy. They demonstrate the potential contribution of the seecp Parliamentary Dimension to conflict resolution, while acknowledging the dependence of the Parliamentary Assembly on the political processes handled through intergovernmental diplomacy. The article shows the limited, although positive, impact of the institutionalisation of this Parliamentary Assembly on parliamentary relations in South-East Europe.