RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović meets Nataliya Kiselova, Speaker of the Parliament of Bulgaria in Tirana  

Tirana – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Amer Kapetanović, took part in the XII Plenary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP PA), held in Tirana today. He addressed the session during the debate on “Parliamentary Cooperation for the Enhancement of Regional Connectivity in South-East Europe”. 

In his intervention, Secretary General Kapetanović underlined that “connectivity today is not only about roads, railways, ports or broadband, it is about shared purpose, economic opportunity, and strategic alignment”. He emphasised that with over 150 million people and a combined GDP of more than 2 trillion dollars, the region holds great potential to become a hub for global supply chains and innovation-driven investment.

“To unlock this potential, connectivity must be seamless and climate-resilient. The RCC’s vision for the next three years is clear: South East Europe (SEE) that is cohesive, resilient, and future-ready. But for this to happen, parliaments must play a key role, providing democratic legitimacy and ensuring that integration is a citizen-driven process,” the RCC Secretary General said.

The RCC also presented its latest Flash Report on the State of Play of Trade and Transport Connectivity in South East Europe, highlighting tangible progress and remaining gaps in boosting regional interconnectivity.

On the margins of the event, RCC Secretary General Kapetanović met with Nataliya Kiselova, Speaker of the Parliament of Bulgaria. The meeting took place in the context of Bulgaria’s upcoming Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), with the official handover ceremony of the SEECP Parliamentary Assembly Chairmanship from Albania set to take place in Tirana later today.

The two officials discussed the strong link between the Bulgarian Chairmanship and the RCC, as the operational arm of the SEECP. They also underlined the importance of maintaining political momentum and parliamentary engagement to accelerate the implementation of regional priorities such as the SEE2030 Strategy, the Common Regional Market, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.

“Parliaments are key allies in ensuring that regional initiatives translate into real benefits for our citizens. I very much welcome the Bulgarian Parliament’s strong support for deeper regional cooperation and look forward to our close collaboration throughout Bulgaria’s Chairmanship,” said Kapetanović.

The RCC remains committed to supporting parliamentary dialogue and fostering initiatives that enhance the region’s connectivity, competitiveness, and long-term resilience.