Director General/Executive Director
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the ninth meeting of the Steering Committee of the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe.
This unique Regional Programme represents an innovative, flexible and relevant framework for cooperation in this strategically important region.
The Programme promotes a coherent approach to supporting countries of the region in fulfilling obligations with respect to UN Conventions and the decisions of UN organs, as well as their own national priorities.
In particular, the Regional Programme helps countries to meet requirements of the EU acquis communautaire on justice and security, and more broadly work towards our shared goals of promoting security, safety and prosperity.
In 2017, the Regional Programme joined the newly-established Western Balkans Integrative Internal Security Governance initiative - an innovative approach to the delivery of technical assistance in South Eastern Europe.
This initiative is not a project, but rather a political platform that provides for ownership of the countries involved, as well as for effectiveness and non-duplication of action in the three areas that it covers, namely countering terrorism; fighting serious and organized crime; and strengthening border control.
As of last month, the implementation of capacity building activities in the field of financial investigations and countering illicit financial flows has started in the region. My colleagues will tell you more about this in a few minutes.
Just a few weeks ago, UNODC met with the main partners in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, to agree on the third pillar of the Integrative Initiative, on border control, and I am looking forward to seeing a comprehensive plan of action in this field before the end of this year.
Furthermore, it is the first time that the EU has entrusted UNODC to take the lead, together with the GIZ, in evaluating the effectiveness of approaches to technical assistance delivery in the Balkans.
I very much welcome this, as monitoring and evaluation are key priorities of UNODC's work and should be integral elements of any serious initiative. We shall be looking into posting an expert with the IISG Support Group in Ljubljana.
In 2017, UNODC's presence in South Eastern Europe also expanded by three new staff members, further supporting effective and timely delivery.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are operating in complex times, with new threats arising as we deal with continuing security challenges. I am proud to say that the Regional Programme for South Eastern Europe is responding to them in a solid manner.
2017 was a challenging year for the international community, with our 2017 Afghan opium survey showing record highs in opium poppy cultivation and production.
Estimated production is up by almost 90 percent to a record 9,000 metric tons. We face a genuine crisis.
Increased opiate supply and consumption, along with related harms, may be expected in many parts of the world, including, of course, along the Balkan route.
Among the comprehensive priority steps that UNODC is undertaking in South Eastern Europe in this context include:
However, drugs originating from Afghanistan represent only one of the challenges affecting the region, in addition to other types of drugs, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons, foreign terrorist fighters and many other threats.
UNODC is actively working to address all these dimensions.
We have achieved effective links between the Regional Programme and UNODC's thematic and global programmes, which reinforces our comprehensive and integrated approach to drugs, crime, corruption, health and terrorism, while also supporting cost-effectiveness and the efficient use of resources.
I am also pleased with the further strengthening of UNODC's cooperation in this region with international and regional partners.
I am glad to welcome to our meeting today the new partners of UNODC, alongside our traditional donors and partners, the Resident Coordinators, and - above all - the countries of the region and the members of the Steering Committee.
The results of the Regional Programme are possible thanks to you, and to the dedication of your Governments.
I thank all of you for your support to UNODC in this region and for your commitment to working with us in the future.
Thank you.