SECI finds cooperation to be crucial to the success of any initiative, be it of public, private or of other nature. Therefore, it endeavours to promote close cooperation among the governments of the region, through creating new channels of communication among them. In order to achieve that, it emphasises the need for communication between the various stakeholders on national as much as regional level and the increase of their ability to overcome national constrains when they have to deal with region-wide concerns. SECI tries to stimulate and facilitate region-wide planning and project implementation, with the idea that wider integration of the region depends on its own internal integration and capacity to fully develop and use its own resources and capacities. In this respect, SECI serves as a bridge between the different actors from the region as much as outside the region, all with the view of finding sustainable and long term solutions for its better integration. Its working methods do not only rely on supporting and promoting ongoing political processes, but also try to identify other ways of achieving agreement for concrete proposals and the realisation of concrete projects on specific issues.

Looking for a comprehensive and integrated approaches to regional problem-solving, SECI attempts to motivate and stimulate practical region-wide planning, identify missing links and needed follow-up, facilitate better involvement of the private sector in regional economic and environmental efforts, help to create a regional climate that encourages the transfer of know-how and greater investment in the region, and assist in harmonizing relevant policies and therefore removing legal and physical obstacles for region-wide cooperation and communication. Key to the achievement of these long term goal is effective and efficient communication and information exchange on all levels and among all participants in the development process.