The Charter of the Council of Ministers for Culture of South East Europe was signed in Copenhagen on March 2005 and aims to promote cultural exchanges between the countries in Southeast Europe and to build up a network between the ministers of culture in the region to exchange information and experience and to strengthen multilateral cultural co-operation.

This initiative came out from the Nordic Council of Ministers´ extensive cultural exchange project with the West Balkans countries, entitled Norden Balkan Culture Switch, that dates back to 2003. The multilateral nature of the cultural projects awoke a response within the authorities in the West Balkans, and, on the initiative of the cultural minister of Albania, discussions began in the Autumn of 2004 to establish this co-operating body.