Celebrating Two Decades of UNODC Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe, the Regional
Programme for South-Eastern Europe (RPSEE) 2024-2029, Civil Society Organizations
and a New Drugs and Crime Report on the Balkan Route: A Milestone Event at CND68 in
Vienna
Vienna, 10 March 2025 – On the first day of the 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND68) the UNODC Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe (ROSEE), the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Türkiye in Vienna and regional partners held a special event "20 Years of the UNODC Regional Office for South-Eastern Europe, Launch of the Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe 2024-2029 and Regional Report", with contributions from UNODC’s Research and Analysis Branch (RAB) and Civil Society Unit (CSU). The event featured keynote speeches from Ambassadors representing the region, representatives from UNODC headquarters, and the ROSEE Regional Representative, highlighting joint achievements and future plans.
Reflecting on Two Decades of Success
In his address, the UNODC Regional Representative for South-Eastern Europe, Mr. Danilo Rizzi, expressed profound gratitude to the Ambassadors and partners in the region for their unwavering support and participation in shaping the Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe (RPSEE) 2024-2029. He emphasized that their insights and collaboration have been instrumental in tailoring the programme to the specific needs and challenges of the regional counterparts, including in support of their EU accession process.
Special appreciation was extended to the donor community, the focal points working in the respective jurisdictions and Türkiye for hosting ROSEE in Istanbul since March 2023. ROSEE's strategic location in Türkiye has significantly enhanced the office’s ability to understand and address different aspects of illicit flows, drugs and crime trends also linked to Africa, Asia, America and Europe.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador H.E Eler Levent, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Türkiye to the UN in Vienna, recognized the important work of ROSEE and underlined that the role of the Regional Office goes well beyond the region itself. "As the Balkan Route is increasingly exploited for trafficking of drugs, smuggling of migrants and other criminal endeavours, we attach the utmost importance to capacity-building as a measure to strengthen regional cooperation", Ambassador H.E Eler Levent said.
Launching the Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe 2024-2029
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the new Regional Programme for South-Eastern Europe 2024-2029. Building upon the successes and lessons learned from its predecessors, the new programme expands its focus to address emerging threats such as cybercrime and terrorism. The RPSEE 2024-2029 envisions the expansion of UNODC work to all five key strategic pillars of the organization with strong support from beneficiaries, Türkiye, and the donor community.
The new Regional Programme was operationalized in late 2024 and emphasizes inter-regional responses and collaborative action at the law enforcement and justice levels, addressing five thematic areas:
Drug Prevention, Treatment and Care
Transnational Organized Crime
Anti-corruption and Asset Recovery
Prevention of Terrorism and Violent Extremism
Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
The event was also the occasion to launch the new ROSEE website, a platform serving as a valuable resource for sharing information and showcasing the strategic work and achievements of the office.
New Report on Drugs and Illicit Finance on the Balkan Route and the Importance of Partnering with Civil Society
In conjunction with the launch of the RPSEE, the report “Opiates and Methamphetamine Trafficking on the Balkan Route: Drug Flows, Illicit Incomes and Illicit Financial Flows” was presented and released by Ms. Angela Me, Chief of the UNODC Research and Analysis Branch (RAB). This valuable report provides an in-depth analysis of the current situation, emerging trends, and key challenges in the region, aiming to inform and shape evidence-based policies and strategies.
Ms. Mirella Dummar Frahi, Chief of the UNODC Civil Society Unit, emphasized that "Partnering with local communities through civil society is crucial for addressing challenges in the region, as they see and experience firsthand the reality on the ground. Their engagement helps shape policies that are evidence-based, inclusive, and impactful".
Summary of Achievements
In 2024, UNODC implemented approximately 200 activities in South-Eastern Europe, resulting in the increased capacities of over 2,600 practitioners and citizens, 58% of whom are female. These achievements underscore the significant impact of UNODC’s work in the region.
Over 100 persons attended the event, both in-person and virtually. The CND68 event not only celebrated past successes but also set a clear vision for the future of UNODC ROSEE, reaffirming the collective commitment to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.
