Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will participate in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit of Heads of State and Government on behalf of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced.

The summit, hosted by Bulgaria, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, in Sofia. It marks the conclusion of Bulgaria’s SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office and coincides with reflections on the 30th anniversary of the regional cooperation platform.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Minister Fidan will represent Türkiye at the high-level gathering, which brings together leaders and senior officials from 13 participating countries in Southeast Europe.

The summit is being held under the theme “Strengthening Regional Unity for a Stable, Secure and Sustainable Future: Reflections on 30 Years of Partnership and Progress.” Discussions are expected to focus on regional cooperation, security, economic development, connectivity, and stability in the Balkans. A summit declaration is anticipated at the end of the meeting.

Turkish diplomatic sources indicated that Minister Fidan is expected to reaffirm Türkiye’s strong support for enhancing regional cooperation based on principles of regional ownership and inclusivity. Ankara views the SEECP as one of the key platforms for political dialogue and cooperation in Southeast Europe.

The SEECP, initiated in 1996, aims to promote good-neighbourly relations, peace, stability, and integration of the region into European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Participants include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, and Türkiye.

This high-level engagement underscores Türkiye’s active role in Balkan affairs and its commitment to regional stability and multilateral cooperation. Further details on Minister Fidan’s bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit are expected to be released in the coming days. (ILKHA)