The event pooled justice ministers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.
The participants in the conference will exchange experience in implementing reforms in Southeast European countries and discuss the promotion of further cooperation, the Austrian Justice Ministry, which organised the conference together with the European Commission, said in a statement.
The conference was opened by Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Gastinger who spoke about the process of building the judiciary in Southeast European countries on their path to the EU.
A vice president of the European Commission and EU Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini, stressed the importance of building an efficient legislation through regional cooperation in light of the need of adjustment and drawing closer of Southeast European countries to the EU.
Croatian Justice Minister Vasena Skare Ozbolt is expected to comment on Croatia's cooperation with countries in the region and progress in the judiciary. Skare Ozbolt will sign a protocol on cooperation between the Croatian and Serbian justice ministries. The protocol will be signed in the presence of Commissioner Frattini.
Austria will take over the EU presidency on 1 January, 2006.