Southeast European Law Enforcement Centre (SELEC)

Southeast European Law Enforcement Center (SELEC) was created following the transformation of the SECI Southeast European Center for Combating Trans-border Crime, which was established in 1999, in Bucharest. The legal basis for this was the signing of the SELEC Convention (Bucharest, 1 December 2009). The Convention entered into force on 7 October 2011, and the depositary for the Convention is Romania.

The SELEC Convention provides a broader legal basis for enhanced regional cooperation in carrying out investigations and court proceedings and providing the prerequisites which would significantly increase the Centre's legal powers in combating trans-border organized crime, terrorism and trafficking in human beings and goods. SELEC establishes and develops mechanisms based on cooperation among member States in law enforcement, which they will be able to continue to use for the purpose of providing mutual assistance and support in the prevention, identification and application of legal mechanisms for the punishment of trans-border crime.

The Centre also provides assistance to the member States in order to align their respective law enforcement legislation with the EU standards and requirements. The Centre supports the efforts of the member States aimed at improving cooperation among the institutions in charge of law enforcement.