The process was launched in 1997, while two years later the participating countries started establishing an international brigade -- SEEBRIG.
The host of the meeting, Slovene Defence Minister Antun Grizold, told reporters SEDM helped in sharing experience and stabilising the region, although there existed difficulties in military cooperation. He added the meeting was also an opportunity to hold a series of bilateral meetings.
Croatian Defence Minister Berislav Roncevic said Croatia's role in SEDM was specific because of its relationships with the countries in the region in the wake of last decade's war.
He said Croatia provided logistical support to the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina and would continue to do so with the European police mission in Bosnia as well.
In a statement to Slovene Television, Roncevic said Croatia was reorganising its defence sector and would likely be ready to join NATO before the next enlargement round.
Asked about Croatian-Slovene relations, the minister said they were friendly despite some outstanding issues which he added would be resolved in a democratic fashion and with respect for international standards.
Attending the meeting also were Bosnian Defence Minister Nikola Radovanovic and Serbia and Montenegro's Prvoslav Davinic, whose countries have guest status in SEDM.