Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biščević, and the Chairman of the Assembly of the Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development (SWG RRD), Dušan Nešković, signed today at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation on rural development in South East Europe.

Cooperation in the rural development area is crucial because it represents an important factor for promoting pro-poor growth, given that the majority of rural dwellers in the region are close to, or below, the poverty line. The MoU signed today will formalize and strengthen the relationship between the RCC and the SWG and enable joint efforts in preparing projects of regional relevance.

Secretary General Biščević and Chairman Nešković underlined the importance of providing opportunities to rural populations and empowering them to lift themselves from poverty and contribute to economic and social development in South East Europe.