Kapetanović and Sinirlioğlu: Stronger cooperation needed for security and resilience in South East Europe 
 

Vienna – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapetanović met with Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu in Vienna today to discuss regional security and resilience, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, and closer cooperation between the two organisations.

The meeting addressed the increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment and the need for coordinated action on counter-terrorism, serious and organised crime, boundary security, cybersecurity, climate change and environmental security. The two officials also discussed cooperation on water management, cross-boundary challenges and the impact of climate change on energy security.

“The RCC and OSCE share a longstanding commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in South East Europe. At a time when security, environmental and geopolitical challenges are increasingly interconnected, our institutions must cooperate more closely, exchange information and ensure that our efforts reinforce one another. Regional cooperation remains essential for building trust, strengthening resilience and supporting the European future of the region,” said RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović.

Kapetanović highlighted the OSCE’s longstanding contribution to stabilisation, democratic development and confidence-building in the region. He presented the RCC’s security work, including the Regional Security Coordination Conference, known as JUMBO, and SecuriMeter, the RCC’s regional public opinion survey on security-related issues.

The discussion also covered the evolution of the EU-funded Integrative Internal Security Governance initiative into the Western Balkans Security Governance Hub, which will support strategic coordination across several security areas.

Sinirlioğlu emphasised the value of regional ownership, sustained political dialogue and practical cooperation among institutions and international partners in addressing shared security and resilience challenges. He also highlighted the role regional organisations can play in linking policy commitments with concrete action and strengthening resilience at both institutional and societal levels.

The two Secretaries General agreed to maintain regular exchanges between their teams, encourage mutual participation in relevant activities and deepen cooperation in areas where the RCC’s and OSCE’s work can be complementary and mutually reinforcing.