SEECOM Milestones

From its beginnings in Budva in 2012, SEECOM has brought together public sector communication professionals to exchange experience, strengthen professional standards and build cooperation across South East Europe.

Government communicators in South East Europe agree on core professional and ethical principles

The First South Eastern European Government Communication Conference in Budva, Montenegro, September 2012 — The First South Eastern European Government Communication Conference, Budva, Montenegro, September 2012.

1st South Eastern European Government Communications Conference

The 1st South Eastern European Government Communication Conference (SEECOM) took place in Budva, Montenegro, on 14–16 September 2012.

The event brought together top government communication officials from nine countries of South East Europe and leading government communication experts from Europe and the United States to exchange experiences and share best practices in government communication.

Participants adopted the Budva Declaration, Europe's first transnational declaration of core professional and ethical principles of government communication, and established SEECOM as a regional professional forum for government communications.

The conference was organised by the Government of Montenegro, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Montenegro and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Media Programme for South East Europe.

Welcome remarks were delivered by then Prime Minister of Montenegro Igor Lukšić, US Ambassador to Montenegro Sue K. Brown, UN Resident Coordinator Rastislav Vrbensky and Head of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Office for Serbia and Montenegro Henri-Giscard Bohnet.

SEECOM gains momentum and expands regional cooperation

Participants at the Second South Eastern European Government Communication Conference in Budva, Montenegro, September 2013 — Participants at the Second South Eastern European Government Communication Conference, Budva, Montenegro, September 2013.

2nd South Eastern European Government Communications Conference

The 2nd South Eastern European Government Communication Conference (SEECOM 2013) took place in Budva, Montenegro, on 27–29 September 2013, bringing together leading government communicators from 13 countries of the region.

Participants also included senior government officials, international dignitaries and prominent government communication experts from Europe and the United States.

Conference topics included government communication as a public service, the effective use of public communication resources, modern technology and two-way communication, citizen participation, social media, communicating EU affairs, presenting public policies and regional cooperation.

The conference adopted the Statute of SEECOM, establishing it as a non-profit professional association of public sector communicators in South East Europe, based in Budva, Montenegro.

SEECOM 2013 was organised by the Government of Montenegro, in cooperation with the US Embassy in Podgorica, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Media Programme South East Europe, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and UNDP Montenegro.

SEECOM reaches out to civil society partners

Government 2.0 Conference

In March 2014, SEECOM partnered with Propulsion Fund and the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina to organise the Government 2.0 Conference in Sarajevo.

The conference brought together representatives of government, civil society and other stakeholders to explore how new technologies and two-way communication can strengthen citizen participation and engagement in public policy.

Discussions also addressed transparent and accountable local government and ways to build public trust. The event reflected SEECOM's efforts to strengthen cooperation between public institutions and civil society and promote more open, participatory and responsive governance.

Montenegro turns a SEECOM conference initiative into government action

Participants at the SEECOM2014 conference in Budva, Montenegro, September 2014 — SEECOM2014 conference, Budva, Montenegro, September 2014.

Public Administration Tailored to the Needs of Citizens and Businesses

At the SEECOM2014 conference in Budva on 27 September 2014, participants explored how the United Kingdom’s Red Tape Challenge initiative could be adapted to Montenegro. The initiative aimed to bring citizens, businesses, civil society organisations and public authorities together to identify unnecessary administrative burdens and make public administration more responsive to their needs.

On 9 November 2014, the Government of Montenegro officially endorsed the project, which envisaged an online platform for discussion and proposals to simplify procedures at local and central government levels.

This was a concrete example of how the exchange of public communication practices at a SEECOM conference could contribute to a national policy initiative. It also reflected the forum’s ambition to encourage closer cooperation between public institutions and civil society, with citizens’ needs at the centre of policymaking.

SEECOM takes its annual conference beyond South East Europe for the first time

Participants at the fourth SEECOM annual conference in Brussels, Belgium, October 2016 — The fourth SEECOM annual conference, Brussels, Belgium, October 2016.

Public Dialogue for a Common European Future

In October 2016, SEECOM held its fourth annual conference in Brussels, marking the first time the forum brought its regional gathering outside South East Europe. The event brought together senior public communicators from the region, their counterparts from across Europe, EU officials and civil society representatives.

Discussions focused on how public communication and dialogue with citizens could help address shared European and regional challenges, including the rise of populism, the migration and refugee crisis, and the role of culture in European integration.

Organised by SEECOM and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Media Programme South East Europe, in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, the conference strengthened the forum’s engagement with the wider European communication community.