Vienna, 28–30 September 2026 – 

The Second Ad Hoc Expert Meeting on Witness Protection under the PCC SEE Framework brought together representatives of the PCC SEE Contracting Parties to continue work on strengthening regional cooperation in the field of witness protection.

Hosted by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and supported by the PCC SEE Secretariat, the meeting built on the first Ad Hoc Expert Meeting held in March 2026 and focused on the draft Agreement on Cooperation in the Area of Witness Protection, prepared by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Experts conducted an article-by-article review of the draft, addressing key legal and operational aspects of cross-border witness protection cooperation and considering comments and proposals submitted by the Contracting Parties. The constructive discussions resulted in further progress on the draft, while several issues were identified for additional consideration and national consultation.

To continue the work on the draft Agreement and address the remaining open issues, the next Ad Hoc Expert Meeting has been scheduled for 24–25 November 2026 in Vienna.