JUMBO 2026: RCC brings together security officials and international partners in Tirana to strengthen coordination and respond to evolving security threats

Tirana – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Amer Kapetanović, called for stronger coordination among security institutions and concrete improvements in regional responses to shared threats at the opening of the 11th Annual Regional Security Coordination Conference (JUMBO 2026) in Tirana today. Held under the theme “Regional Security: New Risks, Stronger Cooperation”, the two-day conference brings together more than 150 senior officials, security practitioners and experts, representatives of European Union institutions and agencies, regional and international organisations, academia and civil society.

JUMBO 2026 is organised by the RCC, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, the Ministry of the Interior of Italy and the European Union, in partnership with the Ministry of Interior of Albania.
 
“By the next JUMBO, we should be able to point to specific improvements: a procedure that works better, a contact that leads to a timely response, or a gap in preparedness that has been addressed. Our citizens should be able to benefit from the cooperation we discuss here,” said Kapetanović.

Besides RCC Secretary General, the conference was opened by Ervin Demo, Minister of Internal Affairs of Albania; Colonel Selvaggio Sarri, Head of the Bilateral Affairs Division at the Italian Ministry of the Interior; Pierluigi Simonetti, Deputy Ambassador of Italy to Albania; and Andre Rizzo, Head of the Political Section at the EU Delegation to Albania. The opening was followed by a keynote address on “The EU-Western Balkans Security Partnership: Priorities for the Years Ahead”, delivered by Igor Malchiodi of the Italian Ministry of the Interior, on behalf of Prefect Stefano Gambacurta, Director of the Anti-Mafia Prevention Unit.

Addressing participants, Kapetanović stressed that criminal networks increasingly operate across multiple jurisdictions, making timely information exchange, coordinated investigations and stronger institutional cooperation essential. He also emphasised that sustained professional cooperation can strengthen trust and stability across the region, even when political relations are difficult.

Kapetanović also highlighted the RCC’s Security Governance Hub and its contribution to implementing the EU-Western Balkans Joint Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism and Prevention of Violent Extremism 2026-2030.

JUMBO 2026 addresses interconnected security challenges, including organised crime, migrant smuggling, corruption, illicit weapons trafficking, the use of drones and emerging technologies by criminal networks, cyber and hybrid threats, and climate-related security risks. Discussions will also draw on preliminary findings from the RCC's SecuriMeter 2026 survey to inform institutional responses to citizens’ security concerns. SecuriMeter 2026 will officially be presented next week at the Belgrade Security Conference. 

The second day of JUMBO 2026 will feature four thematic working groups focusing on migration and regional coordination, organised crime in the digital environment, cyber and hybrid threats, and climate-related security risks. Participants will identify practical recommendations and steps towards improving cooperation and preparedness.

At the opening, Kapetanović paid tribute to the four Italian personnel serving with EUFOR Althea who lost their lives in the helicopter crash near Brčko on 29 October, extending condolences to their families, colleagues and the people of Italy.

The Annual Regional Security Coordination Conference (JUMBO) is one of the RCC’s key platforms for regional security dialogue and coordination. Now in its eleventh year, it brings together security institutions, regional initiatives, EU and international partners to address shared security challenges, exchange expertise and identify opportunities for practical cooperation. By connecting existing mechanisms and encouraging coordinated responses, JUMBO contributes to strengthening security, trust and resilience across South East Europe.

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Speech by RCC SG

Regional Security Coordination Conference (Jumbo)