EULEX experts Alan Wilson and Luca Zonta from the Advisory Unit on Police and Border Matters participated in the 1st Regional Meeting of the SEED Maintenance and Development Project and SEED-CEFTA Joint Workshop 22-23 March in Montenegro. The Systematic Electronic Exchange of Data (SEED) is a project that serves to enhance the administrative capacity of the beneficiaries in the exchange of information with other regional Law Enforcement Agencies. Furthermore, the project assists Beneficiaries who are not yet Member States, to become familiar with the concept of the electronic exchange of data as required by European Commission systems. 

Delegations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, fYRoM, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia plus representatives from the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) Structures (Committee of Trade Facilitation), took part in the meeting and workshop. EULEX’s participation was welcomed, and the recent EULEX initiative in the context of the Dialogue – namely the establishment of the ‘SEED Technical Group’ – was highlighted in the first presentation given by the SEED Project Director. Furthermore, Serbian Customs led their presentation with the recent ‘SEED Technical Group’ meeting held at the Common Crossing Point (CCP) Merdarë/Merdare on 8 March, acknowledging this initiative as an EULEX proposal. EULEX experts provided a short presentation on the role and objectives of the ‘SEED Technical Group’. During closing remarks, organizers highlighted the role of EULEX in ensuring the continuation of the SEED Programme, stating that “the role of EULEX was critical to the securing the future of SEED”. Such initiatives lead towards greater regional integration, including the creation of a Western Balkans Union, and a Single Market within the framework of future Euro-Atlantic Integration