The Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft e.V. (SOG) was founded in 1952. It is the most important intermediary organization for Southeast Europe in the German-speaking world. Institutionally supported by the German Federal Foreign Office, it is dedicated to maintaining scientific, economic and cultural relations with the countries of South Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Turkey.

With its 800 members from academia, politics, business and the media, it combines unique expertise, which is reflected in the society's publications as well as in the events it organizes, including at its 17 branch offices. The head office is located in Munich. The President of the SOG is the former Minister of State, Dr. h.c. Gernot Erler, MdB.