RCC Secretary General meets Foreign Minister of Romania Oana Țoiu and representatives of key institutions in Bucharest

Bucharest – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanović met today in Bucharest with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania Oana Țoiu to discuss cooperation during Bucharest’s current Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), as well as opportunities to advance practical regional initiatives across South East Europe.

The meeting focused on the priorities of the Bucharest SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office and areas in which Romania and the RCC can work closely to support regional cooperation, resilience, sustainable development and European integration. Discussions also covered the implementation of the South East Europe 2030 Strategy, alongside the Common Regional Market and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans as important frameworks for delivering tangible benefits to people and economies across the region.

“Bucharest assumes the SEECP Chairmanship at a time when regional cooperation must be both ambitious and practical. The region does not need more declarations detached from implementation; it needs stronger connectivity, more resilient economies, safer societies and opportunities that people can recognise in their everyday lives. Romania brings valuable experience, political commitment and strong institutional capacity to this task. The RCC stands ready to support its Chairmanship and help translate shared regional priorities into concrete initiatives and measurable results,” said RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović.

Minister Țoiu emphasised Romania’s commitment to an active and results-oriented SEECP Chairmanship, focused on strengthening cooperation among participants and advancing initiatives with clear regional value. She highlighted the importance of close cooperation with the RCC as the operational arm of the SEECP and of using the Chairmanship to promote practical projects in areas including economic development, connectivity, security, resilience and opportunities for young people.

During his visit, Kapetanović also held consultations with Romanian Secretary of State for European Affairs, the Middle East and Africa Clara Staicu. The talks explored possible joint activities during the Bucharest SEECP Chairmanship and ways to strengthen cooperation between the RCC and institutions in Romania across the organisation’s programme and policy areas.

The visit included a round table bringing together representatives of several ministries, the Parliament, public institutions and specialised agencies in Romania. Participants included senior representatives working in the fields of economy and digitalisation, tourism, finance, statistics, defence, emergency situations, security, youth, labour and social policy, as well as experts dealing with hybrid threats and regional cooperation. The RCC delegation presented the organisation’s work and discussed opportunities for cooperation on the SEE 2030 Strategy and Beyond GDP agenda, regional connectivity, tourism and small and medium-sized enterprises, disaster preparedness, integrated boundaries management, strategic communication, security-sector reform, hybrid threats, youth and demographic challenges.

The exchange also addressed initiatives that could be promoted during Bucharest’s SEECP Chairmanship, including upcoming regional training and policy events, stronger institutional links and possibilities for joint activities. Particular attention was given to projects capable of producing visible progress over the coming year and connecting the political priorities of the Chairmanship with practical cooperation among institutions across the region.

Bucharest took over the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office following the June 2026 Summit in Sofia, where SEECP leaders endorsed the RCC Annual Report and the SEE 2030 Strategy Mid-Term Update, and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation, stability, security and sustainability across South East Europe.