News Archive
04 May 2023 | News
European Union launches the third phase of its Roma Integration programme in partnership with the Council of Europe
The European Union is launching the third phase of the Roma Integration programme in partnership with the Council of Europe. It will contribute to the socio-economic integration of the Roma population in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The programme will work with the governments in the region to increase their capacities to tackle challenges faced by Roma in the fields of housing, ...
24 June 2022 | News
Bregu: Support of Western Balkan citizens to regional cooperation remains stable at 76%
Brussels – “While many things change, our public and business perceptions surveys remain a truthful source of sentiments across the region. At times, the results surprise us, sometimes they serve as a wake-up call, while on other occasions they confirm that our efforts are not in vain as citizens and businesses feel the benefits of our work. 76% of Western Balkan citizens find ...
18 May 2022 | News
Bregu: With slowed growth & inflation, higher energy & food prices, Western Balkans will have to amp-up regional cooperation
Sarajevo - It is very difficult to sugar-coat the severity of economic effects of the war on the Western Balkans. It is equally difficult to accurately predict the true and longer-term impact, or to identify the opportunities for the region along the way. Our realities today are drastically different, with the war in Ukraine sending shockwaves and exacerbating two trends that were already ...
08 April 2022 | News
Regional Cooperation Council and Roma Integration project Celebrate International Roma Day
Belgrade – 8 of April is International Roma Day, a time to celebrate the culture, heritage, and accomplishments of Roma. The journey of Roma is one marked by injustice, but it is also a story of happiness, pride and satisfaction. Despite the challenges they face, Roma continue to move forward and develop their culture and traditions. As this day provides an opportunity for Roma ...
16 March 2022 | News
Bregu: European perspective important for socio-economic progress, but also for security and stability
Sarajevo/Tirana – “The times we are living in are not glamorous, on the contrary these are dark moments. We are all heartened and deeply saddened by the unjust war Ukrainian people are going through. The economic impact of the war stretches beyond Ukraine's borders. Concern is present in the Western Balkans, as the geopolitical and economic problems make our region sensitive ...
11 March 2022 | News
Bregu: When women engage, take responsibilities, grow and help each other they can be a rising tide that lifts all boats
Tirana – “The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching today the first Regional Women in Entrepreneurship Network in the Western Balkans. We will not boil the sea right away. But sometimes the smallest act can lead to the biggest impact. We will engage ourselves not only to connect women with each other but also to lend a helping hand with the informational support and ...
13 December 2021 | News
Usein: The school dropout rate of Roma children increased by 11%, while every second Roma reported reduced income due to the impact of Covid-19
Belgrade (13/12/2021) – “The regional analyses on the impact of Covid-19 on Roma in the region confirmed that the highest (negative) consequences for Roma are detected in the areas of employment and education. Three out of four Roma children did not receive any help during online lectures, both from their teachers or classmates, and the dropout rate increased by almost 11% at ...
15 October 2021 | News
Bregu: European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial
Sarajevo – “European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial to all in long-term. It is of highest importance that both the region and the EU deliver on the respective commitments – particularly when we take into account that optimism regarding the time of accession has been declining. More ambitious actions for ...
28 June 2021 | News
Bregu: Discrimination against Roma remains very high, and we have to take actions to reduce and prevent it
Sarajevo – “According to the Balkan Barometer 2021, around 40% of the businesses in the Western Balkans are still reluctant to hire Roma even when they meet the criteria. 63% of Western Balkan citizens do not want their children to share the classroom with Roma children. So, while Poznan Declaration adopted by the region’s leaders 2 years ago clearly stipulates achievements ...
24 June 2021 | News
Bregu: Balkan Barometer reveals human uncertainty and vulnerability are main concerns followed by some goodish news on benefits of regional cooperation
Tirana – “This, seventh in a row, Balkan Barometer shows human uncertainty and vulnerability are the main concerns followed by some goodish news which is the consciousness about the benefits of regional cooperation. For 49% of Western Balkan citizens, unemployment is the biggest problem, as it is for young people as well, while 46% are most worried about the economic situation. ...
22 June 2021 | News
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public and Business Viewpoints on Situation in our Region
Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 2021 edition of Balkan Barometer on Thursday, 24 June 2021, starting at 10:00, in Tirana. This is the 7th edition of annual public and business opinion survey commissioned by the RCC which examines Western Balkan citizens and businesses perceptions and expectations towards a variety of thematic areas, such as the EU integration ...
17 June 2021 | News
Bregu: Voice, concerns, hopes & expectations of the people from the region are core of the RCC work
Antalya – Leaders of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) approved the RCC-developed strategy for socio-economic development of South East Europe (SEE) in the next decade – SEE2030 Strategy, at their Summit held in Antalya, Turkey today.
16 June 2021 | News
Bregu: 2020 was difficult, but a real progress and achievements have been made for development of our region
Antalya – “Last year, ruled by the pandemic has definitely showcased the extent of our interconnectivity and interdependency and demonstrated that in cooperating, we boost our strengths and resilience. It is clear that regional socio-economic integration is crucial for regional development. There is no doubt about the fact that cooperation brings mutual benefit to its participants. ...
08 April 2021 | News
Message on the occasion of 8 April, the International Roma Day
Today we mark one of the most important days for all Roma: the jubilee 50th Anniversary of the First World Romani Congress held back in 1971 in London.
11 March 2021 | News
Bregu: 77% of Western Balkans citizens agree that the relations in the region are better than a year ago
Sarajevo/Tirana – “The months since our last meeting in October have been difficult with the onset of new Covid-19 waves and new variants of the virus turning things topsy-turvy with a downward spiralling. In terms of regional cooperation, the big good news was the success of the Sofia Summit of the Berlin Process and the endorsement of the Declaration on Green Agenda for the ...
10 November 2020 | News
Transformation will not happen overnight but setting bold goals will accelerate the change if we can work together
Sofia - A new phase of regional economic integration started today with the Western Balkans Six leaders endorsing the Common Regional Market Action Plan, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, both facilitated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the Berlin Process Summit held online in Sofia today.
25 October 2020 | News
Tirana to host Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration: housing, civil registration, data collection & budgeting in focus
Tirana - The Ministers responsible for integration of Roma in the Western Balkans economies will meet in Tirana on Tuesday to discuss the progress achieved in the first year of implementation of the Declaration on Roma Integration endorsed at the Poznan Summit last year. The Roma Integration Declaration set important targets for the governments to achieve before they can join the EU, as Roma ...
25 June 2020 | News
Bregu: It is up to the region to retain commitment to cooperation and bring forth tangible progress to citizens
Tirana/Sarajevo/Prishtina – The two meetings have been held today within the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) - the meeting of the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the RCC Annual Meeting, which RCC co-organised with the outgoing Kosovo SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO).
24 June 2020 | News
Bregu: Cooperation is the only blueprint that holds the promise of ‘Stronger Together’
Sarajevo – “The regional cooperation continues to grow in prominence with an overwhelming majority of citizens supportive of its role in improving the political, economic and security situation in their home economies - 77%, and 65% of them believes that what brings WB citizens together is more important than what separates us. The quick spread of COVID -19 was a grim reminder ...
23 June 2020 | News
The Shape of the Things to Come - Presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will present 2020 edition of Balkan Barometer on Wednesday 24 June 2020. This annual public and business opinion survey of the RCC examines the perception and expectations on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends & regional and European integration in the Western Balkan. The 2020 edition presents for the first ...
14 May 2020 | News
Bregu: Pandemic created a common awareness that at least for now humankind takes precedence over politics and disputes
Sarajevo – “For all its aggressiveness, the COVID-19 crisis also offers glimmers of hope. It has connected Western Balkans even more, this time in a fight against an invisible enemy. It has persuaded us that cooperation should be resilient. It has created a common awareness that at least for now humankind takes precedence over politics and disputes, while borders are considered ...
08 April 2020 | News
Roma, as all other citizens, are respecting the imposed measures, understanding that when one is in danger, the whole region is in danger
Belgrade/Sarajevo – “To all my fellow Roma, I would like to congratulate 8th of April, the International Roma Day, which marks Roma history, culture, language and heritage. Unfortunately, this year the celebration must take place under extraordinary circumstances, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the enforced preventive measures. Roma, like others, are also affected by this common ...
13 December 2019 | News
Housing is essential to one's sense of dignity, safety, and inclusion
Belgrade - The RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project held its fourth Task Force meeting in Belgrade on 12 and 13 December 2019. The key stakeholders of the project reviewed the status of activities in the seven participating economies, discussed the status of implementation of the Declaration of the Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration and EU Enlargement (Poznan Declaration), ...
06 November 2019 | News
Roma housing situation: Better legalize than bulldoze!
Sarajevo – “I am pleased to announce that the new methodology we proposed for mapping of illegal settlements in which Roma live will be applied, as pilot projects, in two municipalities per each of the Western Balkans six (plus Turkey?) aiming to replicate it later across the region," said Orhan Usein, the Team Leader of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration ...
08 July 2019 | News
Bregu: RCC keen to embark on any challenges with full support of regional and EU partners - we don’t need to loose time in order to find it again
Sarajevo – „A year behind us was a dynamic one and we are prepared to continue just as dynamic in the next one. We, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) are ready and keen to embark on any challenges ahead of us but we cannot do it without the full support of our regional and European partners, as we don’t need to loose time in order to find it again”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary ...
05 July 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkan should embark on serious, wide-ranging facilitation agenda, including movement of people, goods, services and capital
Poznan – “Two years after the Western Balkans’ (WB) Prime Ministers endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan for the Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Trieste the region has not fully embraced the opportunities offered by the Regional Economic Area. Flows of goods, services, capital and people continue to be obstructed. We all could draw an important lesson from the Regional ...
05 June 2019 | News
Funds should be invested where it is most needed
The way regional budget programs are designed in their current financial systems, seem to be rigid and lack flexibility of intervention either to introduce a new product related directly to Roma budgeting, or to measure its efficiency.
08 April 2019 | News
Marking the International Roma Day: Meet Roma and let them meet you!
Sarajevo/Belgrade – Today is the day we celebrate Romani culture, history, language, heritage and experiences. But it is also an opportunity to continue voicing the necessity of improving the lives and welfare of Roma as equal citizens of our societies, which is the mission of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Project Roma Integration 2020.
05 April 2019 | News
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project continues its work on improving the lives and welfare of Roma as equal citizens in EU Enlargement region
Belgrade – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Construction, Traffic and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Belgrade today, extending Serbian hospitality to the second phase of the RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project, which is seated in Belgrade.
10 December 2018 | News
More jobs and changed approach to employment of Roma community in the enlargement region necessary to combat poverty and social dependence
Budapest - Regional conference on innovative approaches to employment of Roma, jointly organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s projects Roma Integration 2020 and Employment and Social Affairs Platform (EASP), and Roma Education Fund (REF) started in Budapest today.
05 December 2018 | News
Enlargement region governments expressed will to secure equal opportunities, development and non-discrimination of Roma community
Skopje – Governments of the Western Balkans and Turkey agreed to work on a Regional Declaration on Roma and EU enlargement at the Third Task Force meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) project, held in Skopje. They also agreed to continue and enhance efforts for full equality and integration of Roma in the enlargement region.
08 November 2018 | News
The work of the Regional Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting continues at its third meeting
Rome – The Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting, comprising of the National Roma Contacts Points (NRCP) representatives of Ministries of Finances from the economies in the enlargement region, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration (RI2020) Action Team and independent budget experts, continued discussion on regional budgeting standards ...
31 October 2018 | News
Svilanovic: Romani women are the most vulnerable group and region desperately needs to ensure their economic independence
Belgrade – The regional conference on economic situation of Romani women in the European Union enlargement region, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) in cooperation with the Government of Serbia and CARE International Balkans, has started in Belgrade today.
10 October 2018 | News
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 at 2018 EU Platform on Roma Inclusion in Brussels
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team prepared a set of recommendations intended to resolve the housing situation of Roma in a sustainable way and contribute to the progress of full realisation of the fundamental rights of Roma, and shared them with participants of the 2018 EU Platform on Roma Inclusion, organized by the European ...
03 October 2018 | News
Second National Platform on Roma Integration held in Skopje
Skopje – The second national platform on Roma Integration, gathering representatives of the government, civil society organizations, the Delegation of the European Union and relevant international organisations, to assess the Roma integration policy achievements made in 2017 and agree on priorities for 2018, met in Skopje today.
28 September 2018 | News
Third National Platform on Roma Integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in Sarajevo
Sarajevo – The third National Platform on Roma Integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 in cooperation with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held in Sarajevo today. It gathered relevant officials from all levels of governance in charge of Roma integration and representatives ...
21 September 2018 | News
Pristina hosts third National Platform on Roma Integration
Pristina - Under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020), the third National Platform on Roma Integration in Kosovo*, jointly organized by the RI2020 Action Team and the Office of the Prime Minister was held in Pristina today.
06 July 2018 | News
RCC’s Balkan Barometer 2018: Satisfaction of people and businesses on overall situation in the region is steadily improving
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) revealed results of 2018 edition of the Balkan Barometer (BB), an annual survey of citizens and business communities’ opinion on the situation in the region, in Brussels today. The main findings of the survey show that satisfaction of people and businesses on the overall situation in the region, while still below average, is steadily improving.
03 July 2018 | News
Second Meeting of the Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting
Bucharest – The second meeting of the Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020), took place in Bucharest today.
03 July 2018 | News
RCC to present SEE2020 strategy implementation results and its Balkan Barometer 2018 this week in Brussels
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the implementation results of the region’s growth strategy, South East Europe 2020 (SEE2020) on 5 July 2018 in Brussels, and day after, on 6 July also in Brussels, the RCC will reveal the results of its 4th edition of the public and business opinion survey – Balkan Barometer 2018. Both are an integral part of the RCC’s ...
26 June 2018 | News
Usein: Data collection system to be improved for assessment of progress in integration of Roma
Belgrade – National Platform on Roma integration in Serbia, providing wide public dialogue with the relevant institutions and civil society and others concerned with the issue of Roma integration, at the same time ensuring transparency of the Roma related policy, participation in decision making and accountability of the implementing institutions towards the public, met in Belgrade today.
11 June 2018 | News
Second National Platform Meeting on Roma Integration in Albania held in Tirana
Tirana - The second National Platform Meeting on Roma Integration, aimed at reviewing the status of implementation of National Action Plan for Integration of Roma and Egyptians in Albania for the period from 2016 to 2020, took place in Tirana today. The meeting was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI 2020) Action Team, in close cooperation with ...
31 May 2018 | News
Usein: Housing remains the most challenging issue for Roma integration in the region
Bar – A two day conference “Holistic Approach to Housing for Roma in the Enlargement Region”, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team, started in Bar today.
30 May 2018 | News
Third National Platform meeting on Roma Integration in Montenegro held in Podgorica
Podgorica – The third National Platform meeting on Roma Integration in Montenegro for 2018, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team in close cooperation with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro, took place on 30 May in Podgorica.
08 April 2018 | News
RCC and its RI2020 congratulate the International Roma Day
Sarajevo, Belgrade – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Roma Integration 2020 Action Team congratulate the International Roma Day, being marked today .
13 February 2018 | News
Discrimination against Roma and anti-Gypsyism in the enlargement region in the focus of the Berlin workshop
Berlin – A two-day workshop addressing discrimination and anti-Gypsyism in the enlargement region, organized under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) project, opened in Berlin today. The main objective of the workshop, gathering more than 80 ministerial officials from the Western Balkans and Turkey, is to ensure officials from ...
10 November 2017 | News
RCC: Coordinated and Efficient Spending in Roma Integration Policies Needed to Produce Tangible Results
Tirana – The Regional Conference on Filling in the Budget Gaps in Roma Integration Policies, organized by the Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania, has started in Tirana today.
09 November 2017 | News
RCC: Tirana to host Regional Conference on Filling in the Budget Gaps in Roma Integration Policies
Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team organizes a Conference on 10 November in Tirana, to address the needs and priorities in the Western Balkans and Turkey concerning filling in the budget gaps in Roma Integration Policies, with a specific focus on employment and housing for Roma.
21 September 2017 | News
Roma Integration 2020: Budgeting in the region to be improved to reflect measures for integration of Roma
Belgrade - Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team (RI2020) is given the mandate to work with the governments on developing regional standards for budgeting Roma Integration policies and mainstream budgeting responsible to Roma integration, at the RI2020 Task Force meeting which ended in Belgrade today.
23 May 2017 | News
Tirana Hosts Public Dialogue Forum on Roma Integration
Tirana – A two-day Public Dialogue Forum, discussing the implementation of the National Action Plan for Integration of Roma and Egyptians 2016-2020, opened in Tirana, Albania today. The Forum, focusing on the five main priorities - education, employment, social protection, housing and health with the respective achievements and challenges – has been organized by the Regional Cooperation ...
31 March 2017 | News
Serbian journalists in a visit to the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat
Sarajevo – A group of 11 Serbian journalists and representatives of their Government’s Team for social inclusion and poverty reduction visited the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today, as a part of the thematic study tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
29 March 2017 | News
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project at Roma week 2017 in Brussels
Brussels – Orhan Usein, Leader of Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team presented the work and goals of the RI2020 working on Roma Integration issues in the Western Balkans and Turkey, within the Roma week 2017, taking place in Brussels.
21 March 2017 | News
Orhan Usein: Through policies and budgets governments begin to translate commitments to Roma into integration and equality
Skopje/Sarajevo – A two-day regional workshop on budgeting for Roma integration policies, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 project (RI2020), took place in Skopje on 20-21 March 2017. The Workshop participants discussed public financing and budgeting allocations for Roma population in the Western Balkan economies.
12 December 2016 | News
Roma integration as conditionality of EU accession process
Vienna/Sarajevo – The regional workshop on monitoring and reporting, organised by Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), started in Vienna today. It will provide the participants with the necessary skills for data collection, use of monitoring indicators and reporting on the Roma-relevant policies and programmes that are being implemented ...
01 December 2016 | News
Roma Integration 2020: The 2016 cycle of Public Dialogue Forums on Roma issues concludes in Podgorica
Podgorica – The 2016 cycle of the Public Dialogue Forums on implementation and priority measures on Roma issues, that took place throughout the region in the past few months, concluded with the Forum in Podgorica today. The events have been organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team together with national authorities in Belgrade, Sarajevo, ...
24 November 2016 | News
Roma Integration 2020: Public Dialogue Forum on Roma issues in Skopje
Skopje - Public Dialogue Forum on Roma Integration titled “Rules of Procedure of The National Coordination Body, The Roma Information Centres, and The Roma Health Mediators” began in Skopje. The two-day event is organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team together with Mr Nezdet Mustafa, Minister without portfolio, National coordinator ...
21 November 2016 | News
Roma Integration 2020: Public Dialogue Forum on Strategy and Action Plan for inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians
Pristina - Under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Project Roma Integration 2020, the first Policy Dialogue Forum, jointly organized with the Office for Good Governance of the Office of the Prime Minister, was held in Pristina today.
07 November 2016 | News
RCC: Bosnia and Herzegovina works on finalisation of the Action Plan on Roma for 2017-2020 at public dialogue forum in Sarajevo
Sarajevo, 7 November 2016 – Bosnia and Herzegovina works on finalisation of the Action Plan on Roma for 2017-2020 at the public dialogue forum organised by the Roma Integration 2020 project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), held in Sarajevo today.
13 October 2016 | News
RCC: Public dialogue forum on Roma Integration kicks off with public hearing at Serbian National Assembly
Sarajevo/Belgrade - The Roma Integration 2020 project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presented its activities assisting the Government in the implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma 2016-2025 at the public hearing organised in cooperation with the Committee for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality of the Serbian National Assembly, in Belgrade today.
09 June 2016 | News
"Before accession, countries will need to prove tangible progress on Roma inclusion"
Brussels, June the 9th 2016 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the European Commission (EC) jointly launched the “Roma Integration 2020” initiative today in Brussels. The event brought together Roma integration policy leaders from the Western Balkans and Turkey, civil society organisations from the region, as well as representatives of the ...
08 April 2016 | News
Svilanovic: International Roma Day excellent opportunity to recall extensive heritage of region’s largest ethnic minority
Today, on the occasion of the International Roma Day, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, extended his congratulations stressing that this is an excellent opportunity to recall rich and extensive heritage and diversity of the region’s largest ethnic minority - Roma.
11 September 2015 | News
Roma Decade ends – Roma Integration 2020 picks up
Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully completed its year of chairing the Roma Decade thus completing this process started 10 years go.