News Archive
04 October 2023 | News
Bregu: By working on digital transformation we are working on Europeanisation of our region
Sarajevo – The sixth Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS), hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina and supported by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), opened this morning in Sarajevo.
03 October 2023 | News
Bregu: Balkathon is a platform for development of young people's entrepreneurial skills and creating new jobs
Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presents winners of the fourth Western Balkans online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 4.0:
02 October 2023 | News
Who will win 2023 Balkathon? Follow us live tomorrow and find out
Sarajevo – The grand finale of the fourth Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s online competition for the best digital solutions in the Western Balkans, BALKATHON 4.0 is to take place tomorrow, Tuesday, 3 October 2023 starting at 10.00 hrs in Sarajevo. The event will be livestreamed at RCC’s YouTube channel.
02 October 2023 | News
Bregu: EU-Western Balkans roaming reductions in force as of today
TIRANA, October 2, 2023 — In a significant stride towards regional cooperation and affordable mobile communication, the EU-Western Balkans Roaming Declaration, signed at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tirana on December 6, 2022, has officially taken effect, marking 1 October 2023, as a date of change.
30 June 2023 | News
Bregu: Crucial step to reinforcing critical digital capacities in our region is phasing in EU policies and programmes
Brussels – “Today’s accession to the Digital Europe Programme for four economies from our region is a major development and crucial step to reinforce critical digital capacities in EU and WB. What once seemed almost utopic is now a reality since 2021 - with the regional roaming fees eliminated. We continue to keep our promises on the roaming agenda. During the first Regulatory ...
29 June 2023 | News
Bregu: Regional approach to cybersecurity, in line with EU standards, is a must
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in cooperation with DG NEAR, organised a two-day high-level conference on cybersecurity in the Western Balkans, on 28-29 June 2023 in Brussels.
28 March 2023 | News
Bregu: Digitalisation momentum in Western Balkans calls for improvement e-service accessibility improvement and reduction of digital divide
Sarajevo – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB) gathered region’s ministers and other high ranking government officials, local and international experts in digital projects, key donors and financial institutions, as well as business representatives from the Western Balkans at the “Financing Digitalisation ...
27 March 2023 | News
RCC, EBRD, EIB organising Investing in Digitalisation in the Western Balkans Conference tomorrow in Sarajevo
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Global are organising Investing in Digitalisation in the Western Balkans Conference, that is to take place on Tuesday, on 28 March 2023 in Sarajevo.
15 March 2023 | News
Bregu: Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains key in strengthening economic resilience of Western Balkans
Sarajevo – “External risks arising from the current geopolitical crisis and the rise in commodity prices reinforce the purpose of the Common Regional Market agenda. Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains the key towards strengthening economic resilience of the Western Balkans,” said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, ...
07 February 2023 | News
United Group Joins the EU-WB Roaming Declaration
Brussels/Sarajevo - United Group, one of the largest telecommunications and media operators in the South East Europe including Nova, Total TV, Telemach, SBB and more regional telecommunication platforms, signed the European Union (EU)-Western Balkans (WB) Roaming Declaration at a meeting of telecommunications operators from EU and WB in Brussels today organised by the European Commission ...
08 December 2022 | News
RCC hosts the Second Butterfly Innovation & Business Forum in Sarajevo
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in partnership with the EU4DigitalSME - Innovation and Digitalisation in SMEs in BiH project implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), hosted the Second Butterfly Innovation & Business Forum on 6-7 December 2022 in Sarajevo.
06 December 2022 | News
Reduction of data roaming prices between WB and EU to start as of 1 October 2023
At the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Tirana today, the telecommunications operators from the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans signed a Roaming Declaration enabling the reduction of the roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans as of 1 October 2023.
03 November 2022 | News
Bregu: It’s done - the three RCC-coordinated centrepiece mobility agreements finally see the light of day
Berlin – The Heads of Governments of the Western Balkans Six signed the three mobility agreements under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan’s mobility agendas - on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects – at the ...
21 October 2022 | News
All-inclusive regional cooperation and Common Regional Market deliver results
Berlin/Sarajevo – The Western Balkans (WB) Foreign Ministers approved three regional agreements - on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects – at the WB-EU ministerial meeting, organised within the Berlin Process by the German Government ...
19 October 2022 | News
European Union and Western Balkans mobile operators to work together on steps, ought to start EU-WB roaming charges reduction soon
Sarajevo/Brussels – The European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans (WB) mobile operators met today to discuss the Roadmap on lowering the roaming charges between the EU and our region, at the meeting organised by the European Commission. Olivér Várhelyi, EU Neighborhood and Enlargement Commissioner, Thierry Breton, EU Internal Market Commissioner, and Majlinda Bregu, ...
21 September 2022 | News
Bregu: Digitalisation necessitates an intergenerational approach
Pristina – “Today is a great day for Pristina. It is the centre of gravity of one of the greatest Berlin Process initiatives – the Western Balkans Digital Summit. Pristina today bursts and radiates with the dynamism of so many start-ups, companies, experts and policy makers – all united in their drive to harness the potentials of digitisation for our region’s ...
06 September 2022 | News
Bregu: Balkathon is the image and positive narrative of our thriving region in this exceptionally uncertain outlook
Pristina - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presents winners of the third Western Balkans online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 3.0:
04 September 2022 | News
Bregu: 12 teams consisting of region’s youngsters to present their products at Balkathon finale
Sarajevo – The finale of the third Western Balkans’ online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 3.0 is to take place on Tuesday, 6 September 2022, at the event starting at 10.00 hrs in Pristina, and live on the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) YouTube channel and Facebook page.
26 June 2022 | News
RCC to award six best innovative solutions from the Western Balkans
Sarajevo/Tirana – The winners of the first Butterfly Innovation Award competition the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched in April this year are to be presented on Monday, 27 June 2022 in Tirana, Albania, on the side-lines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Steering Platform on Research and Innovation & Education and Training. The Award Ceremony has been co-organised ...
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 ...
23 May 2022 | News
Balkathon 3.0 info session set for Friday, 27 May 2022
Sarajevo - If you're interested in participating in the Balkathon 3.0 but aren't sure where to start, join us for a brief event this Friday, 27 May at 13:00 CET! During info session we will briefly explain all details about Balkathon registration process and answer on all your questions. Info session will be held online via Zoom platform.
06 May 2022 | News
Balkathon 3.0 is on: RCC supports the best digital solutions in the Western Balkans
Sarajevo – For the third time in a row, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching an online competition for the best digital ideas and solutions from the Western Balkans - Balkathon 3.0. Applications are open until 16 June.
16 December 2021 | News
Bregu: In January 2022 RCC will launch the first regional Butterfly Innovation Award to encourage young innovators around the region
Bregu: In January 2022 RCC will launch the first regional Butterfly Innovation Award to encourage young innovators around the region RCC hosts the first Western Balkans Butterfly Innovation & Business Forum Skopje/Sarajevo – “On average, only 1 or 2 out of 100 caterpillars make it to become butterflies. Similarly, between 90% and 95% of start-ups worldwide fail within ...
25 November 2021 | News
Bregu: Being Europeans is not written in DNA but what you believe and fight for
“It’s not breaking news any longer that our youth is leaving the region. One out of 3 youngsters, age 18-24, in the Western Balkans confirms that they are ready to leave their homeland. We should understand the message – their choice of destination shows what’s missing in their own societies. We just need to observe, listen and the most importantly act –give ...
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 ...
13 October 2021 | News
Bregu proposes creation of ‘Digital Identity’ system for Western Balkan citizens, modelled on the EU one
Podgorica – “We are racing to reach high standards of EU MS. Despite trying to run with the same speed as EU MS, we started our race later and hence we can never reach EU unless “phasing in” in EU policies is duly implemented,” said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) at the closing of the 4th Digital Summit of the Western ...
12 October 2021 | News
Digital Solutions: Six new ‘made in Western Balkans’ products presented at the 4th Digital Summit
Sarajevo/Podgorica – Six new ‘made in Western Balkans’ digital products have been presented at the 4th WB Digital Summit in Podgorica today. Authors of the products connecting digital with organic food, agriculture, sales, health, transportation services, small businesses, and environment-friendly plastic are all the winners of the second Balkathon, regional annual competition ...
10 October 2021 | News
Western Balkans Digital Summit opens in Podgorica tomorrow
Sarajevo/Podgorica - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is once again supporting the biggest digital event in the region - the Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS) - the forth in a row annual event on digital cooperation in the region. This year, WBDS will be hosted by the Montenegrin Government and will be held in hybrid mode, from 11 to 13 October 2021, closing with the Ministerial ...
06 October 2021 | News
Bregu: It is crunch time to deliver on reducing roaming costs between the EU and Western Balkans
Brdo pri Kranju/Sarajevo – “As the agendas of regional cooperation build in intensity and challenges get bigger, we witness daily that the process of cooperation among Western Balkan Six cannot afford a stalemate,” said Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu, at the EU-Western Balkans Summit that gathered EU and WB leaders at Brdo pri Kranju ...
08 July 2021 | News
Kapetanovic: Addressing the spread of disinformation should be an integral part of the overall security policy
Sarajevo – “SecuriMeter data show us that people of the Western Balkans perceive three areas of public life to be threatened by intentional disinformation: economy and finance (57%), trust in public institutions (54%), and trust in elected representatives (51%). With that in mind, it makes sense to conclude and reiterate that addressing the spread of disinformation should be viewed ...
02 July 2021 | News
Regional Roaming Agreement is clear: Roaming charges in the Western Balkans are now ZERO
The Regional Cooperation Council is pleased and happy that the roam like at home has entered into force in the Western Balkans as of 1 July. We take pride and are happy that this successful process we facilitated in eliminating barriers, borders, and tariff related to mobile traffic in the region has finally happened. It is result of the hard work between the region’s governments, regulatory ...
25 June 2021 | News
Bregu: People want and need to be connected in many ways and Roaming Free region is one of the ways enabling it
Podgorica – “People want and need to be connected in many ways and Roaming Free region is one of the ways enabling it. Looking back three years ago, when the Western Balkan Leaders decided to lower the roaming prices within the region, no one had thought that we would have region with 0 roaming charges that soon. And here we are, counting days before Roaming Free Western Balkans,” ...
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 June 2021 | News
Bregu: Common Regional Market is a rule of thumb, not a law of nature
Sarajevo/Tirana – “Common Regional Market (CRM) is a rule of thumb, not a law of nature. It doesn’t apply to every single national vision a government or economy in the region has, nor to every kind of good or bad bilateral relations. It is a broaden-and-build plan, endorsed by the Leaders of this region to enable a better region. The RCC is only trying to steer an intense ...
28 May 2021 | News
Bregu: Congratulations to all Balkathon winners who showed young people of our region are innovative and creative
Sarajevo/ Podgorica/Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presents winners of the second Western Balkans online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 2.0:
27 May 2021 | News
BALKHATHON 2.0 award ceremony: Six Best Teams to be Awarded for their Digital Solutions
Sarajevo/Podgorica – Winners of the second Western Balkans’ online competition for the best digital solutions, BALKATHON 2.0 are to receive their awards tomorrow, 28 May 2021, at the final event starting at 10.00 hrs live on the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) YouTube channel and Facebook page.
19 May 2021 | News
Balkathon 2.0 Application Deadline Extends Until 21 May at 17.00 CET
You see yourself as the creator of new age? You have an idea that you want to develop? You seek an opportunity that will help your idea become reality? We have one word for you – Balkathon2.0
19 May 2021 | News
Bregu: Regional cooperation with clear, targeted goals and meeting deliverables is more urgent than ever
Sarajevo/Tirana–“Regional cooperation with clear, targeted goals and meeting deliverables is more urgent than ever. Establishing a Common Regional Market which will attract investors, support real added value of industries, promote innovation, ensure digitalization and bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU standards, will smoothen recovery and enhance resilience to future ...
11 May 2021 | News
Balkathon 2.0 Info Session Set for Friday, 14 May
Sarajevo – With Balkathon 2.0 in motion for almost a week now, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organizing Info session day on Friday, 14 May 2021 at 13.00 for all interested participants. During the Info session the RCC staff will explain all details about Balkathon registration process and answer questions related to the competition. The info session will be held online via ...
07 May 2021 | News
Bregu: Region’s efforts on the Common Regional Market reform agenda are widely recognized & supported
RCC hosts the first Donor Coordination meeting on Common Regional Market Sarajevo/Tirana – “Region’s efforts regarding the Common Regional Market (CRM) reform agenda are widely recognized and supported, including at the recent G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting, where the leaders supported further progress on regional cooperation through the Common ...
05 May 2021 | News
BALKATHON 2.0 IS ON: Apply till 19 May and you can win mentoring and one of six awards from the 54.000 EUR award fund
For the second time the RCC is organising an online competition for best digital solutions – Balkathon 2.0 Sarajevo – After last year’s successful Balkathon, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising the second Western Balkans’ online competition for the best digital solutions Balkathon 2.0 – we are looking for a fresh, innovative and unique ideas ...
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 ...
02 March 2021 | News
Bregu: Futourismo is a new hope to help our region recover its tourism
Tirana/Sarajevo – Seven teams from the Western Balkans: • Guidi for app Veni, Vidi, Guidi • BIB for 'Be in Balkan' Mobile Application, • Digital Clinic for e-Health Tourism • TED for Safe Traveling Western Balkans • Sanatec7 for 'Virtual Culture' • ...
01 March 2021 | News
Six Western Balkans projects aimed at helping region’s tourism to be awarded 15.000 EUR each, at a ceremony tomorrow
Sarajevo/Tirana – On 3 February 2021, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Triple P Tourism Project launched the 1st regional FUTOURISMO competition, seeking innovative digital solutions that will help mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the heavily affected sector of tourism.
23 February 2021 | News
Roaming free Western Balkans as of 1 July 2021 brings the region one step closer to the WB-EU roaming charges reduction
Sarajevo – “The signing of the Western Balkans Regional Roaming Agreement in April 2019 was a historic accomplishment and one of the key deliverables of the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, producing tangible benefits for citizens while testing our commitment and confidence in regional dialogue. I am confident the region will deliver again and after the pandemic ends, our ...
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.
02 November 2020 | News
While EU and the world are advancing to fit to the Digital Age, we need to run twice as fast to close the discrepancies
Tirana/Sarajevo – “At the last years' Digital Summit in Belgrade we witnessed a success story when the ministers of the Western Balkans (WB) six in charge of information and communication technologies signed the new Regional Roaming Agreement, paving a way for roaming free WB in 2021. I’m confident the region will deliver again having full support from European Commission ...
26 October 2020 | News
We now pay between 83% and 96% less roaming charges in the entire Western Balkans, and as of July 2021 roaming costs will be 0
Tirana/Sarajevo – The Third Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS) has been opened in Tirana today, continuing its legacy, which started at the WBDS Skopje in 2018 – the first ever WB DS that initiated digital policy dialogue on WB digital transformation at the highest prime ministers level, followed by the DS in Belgrade in 2019 with the signing of the Regional Roaming Agreement. ...
23 October 2020 | News
Tirana to host the 3rd Western Balkans Digital Summit
Tirana/Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is once again supporting the biggest digital event in the region - the Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS) - the third in a row annual event taking the digital cooperation to the next level. This year WBDS will be hosted by the Albanian Government and will be in hybrid format, with online sessions during 26-28 of October 2020, ...
22 October 2020 | News
CRM is a stepping stone for the WB to align with EU single market rules
Belgrade/Sarajevo – “Some estimates say that regional economic integration in the Western Balkans could generate up to 2.5% of GDP growth should the level of integration reach the level of EFTA, and should it reach the EU level of integration, it could generate 6.7% of GDP growth. Therefore, I am pleased that by Sofia Summit on 10 November we will have a very good roadmap action ...
16 July 2020 | News
Bregu: Balkathon – Smarten up for the future is not only regional response to pandemic outbreak but also a mind-setter for the changing, digital world
Sarajevo – Miron Lukač on behalf of Portal World Team from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albana Mucaj on behalf of the Kallz Training Center Team from Albania, and Dritan Mollanji on behalf of Symmetric Team from Albania were awarded for their best innovative solutions for Smart Tourism, Digital Learning and Online Payments at the final session of Balkathon, the 1st Regional Online Competition ...
15 July 2020 | News
BALKATHON FINALS: Best Digital Solutions from the Western Balkans to be Awarded at the Final Session of the 1st Regional Online Competition
Sarajevo - 1st Regional BALKATHON ends tomorrow, 16 July 2020, with selection of the 3 best innovative digital solutions out of 88 applicants from the Western Balkans, at the final online session.
02 July 2020 | News
1st Western Balkans Balkathon is ON: Apply and RCC will support best ideas for innovative digital solutions development with 10,000 EUR
Sarajevo - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising the first online Western Balkans’ Balkathon competition to trigger digital innovative and practical business solutions. The regional online Balkathon aims to help the Western Balkans citizens and businesses to recover from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak that has hit businesses and citizens in the first quarter of 2020 ...
01 July 2020 | News
Bregu: Regional Roaming Agreement was a regional success story
Sarajevo/Tirana – “On this date a year ago we started paying less money for our phone bills, as the Regional Roaming Agreement entered into force reducing roaming costs across the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia), as much as 99% in some cases. Data traffic increased for more than 60%, outgoing calls in roaming for more than ...
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 ...
10 June 2020 | News
WBIF awards €8.3 million worth of grants financed by the EU for Western Balkans’ Digital, Environment and Social projects
Sarajevo/Brussels – Good news for the region come from the Brussels today as Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) Steering Committee approved eight grant applications for technical assistance from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Serbia, at its session held online today. The projects 8,3 million EUR worth, financed by the European Union, covering digital, environment ...
01 June 2020 | News
Balkan Barometer: 80% of Western Balkans managers consider digital skills very important for doing businesses
Sarajevo/Belgrade/Zurich – “Benefits of digital technologies are multi-fold. Not only they can generate greater benefits from macroeconomic perspective but could also ease procedures and make borders less visible, processes less heavy, supply of new services to customers simpler and businesses much faster,“ said Tanja Miščević, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation ...
26 May 2020 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans needs to switch its development trajectory from physical capital accumulation to knowledge accumulation
Sarajevo/Tirana/Geneva - “Still unpublished latest edition of the RCC’s annual public and business survey for the Wester Balkans - Balkan Barometer 2020 shows that, as expected, internet was extensively used for communication purposes with the proliferation of social media (69%), while traditionally it was less popular for education (30%) and online shopping (22%). E-government ...
22 May 2020 | News
Green Agenda and Biological Biodiversity for the Western Balkans as important as all other Development Agendas
Sarajevo/Belgrade – “All economic and social development agendas, crucial for the development of our region and its EU-accession journey have to be accompanied by the equal efforts of environment protection and climate change responses. Biodiversity, in that context, is high on the list of priorities as endangering the other species makes us, humans, highly vulnerable as well. ...
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 ...
06 May 2020 | News
Bregu: No brilliant regional plan can succeed without strong political leadership and fully synchronized EU- WB trajectories
Sarajevo/Tirana/Zagreb - Now, almost 4 years after we initiated the work on Regional Economic Area (REA) the region is ready to embark on the next phase of deepening regional economic cooperation assure the WB6 economies to have ownership first, and bringing the region closer to the EU internal market. While it is my pleasure to officially commit today the full readiness and dedication ...
30 April 2020 | News
RCC Initiates Regional Working Group on Digital Upskilling in the Western Balkans
Sarajevo – In an attempt to address high digital skills gap present in the Western Balkans and especially obvious in the current situation of economies’ lockdown when many jobs have moved from onsite to online, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) initiated and hosted the first meeting of the regional Balkan Digital Skills Multi Stakeholder Working Group.
23 March 2020 | News
On its way - Green Corridor enabling easy supply of goods within the Western Balkans and between the region and the European Union
Sarajevo – On the initiative of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), representatives of the Governments from South East Europe, European Union (EU) and regional stakeholders are working on the establishment of the Green Corridor within the region and between the Western Balkans (WB) and the EU. The Corridor is envisaged as a set of special procedures that would enable unhindered ...
20 March 2020 | News
Bregu: The only way to prevent shortages of medical equipment or food in WB is to simplify and harmonize sanitary controls – a Green Corridor
Tirana/Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, spoke last night at the Tirana based RTV Klan’s Opinion show, about the major distress in the region after the European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402, which imposes new rules, for the export of personal protective equipment and medical equipment outside the EU. ...
25 December 2019 | News
RCC fully committed to regional cooperation
Sarajevo – There have been many discrepancies and a lack of clear information on the role of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in the so called “Mini-Schengen” initiative meetings. Regional Cooperation Council is invited to “Mini-Schengen” meetings together with EU, USA, WB, EBRD & EIB, to hear the proposals of the Western Balkan (WB) leaders.
11 December 2019 | News
EU boosts support for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans
Brussels - In the margins of the Western Balkan Sherpas meeting, which took place in Brussels today in the run-up to the EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2020, the European Commission reinforced its support to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. The signed contract for continued cooperation with RCC worth EUR 12.5 million aims at further strengthening RCC’s activities over the ...
02 December 2019 | News
Bregu: It’s high time for the Western Balkans to address challenges and sensitivities with a clearer and ambitious vision
Brussels – “The region is at a different landscape. It is high time to address challenges and sensitivities with a clearer and ambitious vision. We are initiating the process of the new economic vision beyond 2020 in close consultation with all six Western Balkan (WB) economies and the European Union (EU)”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council ...
05 November 2019 | News
Low women employment and labour market skills mismatch in Western Balkans call for stronger cooperation
Istanbul – “The women unemployment in the Western Balkans is 60%. Analyses show a big mismatch in the labour market(s) between the demands and offered sets of skills and knowledge. Almost half of the students in the region enrol into the Humanities, Social Sciences and Business study programmes (49%) and only 24% of them choose Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects, ...
30 October 2019 | News
Bregu: While waiting for EU plans for the region, we should focus on connectivity through regional cooperation and serious domestic reforms
Tirana – “Instead of having a focused discussion on Connectivity agenda and how much out of the 1 billion euro of the European Union’s (EU) grants from 2015 to 2020 was spent or how important connecting people and markets in the region is, etc. this October, this meeting included, the region is re-focused to its EU prospects and answering the “What comes next?” question”, ...
17 October 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans citizens need incentive from the EU
Sarajevo – “While awaiting the European Union’s Summit’s official decision on the opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia today, for us in the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and for the entire region as well, it is quite important to reiterate that Western Balkans is an integral part of the EU. The EU integration process needs always to ...
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 ...
07 July 2019 | News
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2019 at the Annual meeting of the organisation in Sarajevo
Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 5th, 2019 edition of its public and businesses viewpoints survey – Balkan Barometer (BB) at the Annual meeting of the organisation that is taking place on 8 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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 ...
04 July 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans needs to fully embrace and capitalize on the Regional Economic Area
Poznan – “Two years since the endorsement of Multi-annual Action plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Trieste and one year since London our region can show only a mixed track record at best. Western Balkans (WB) did not fully embrace Regional Economic Area (REA) and as a result vast potentials of regional economic integration remain untapped. There are many bilateral disputes ...
04 July 2019 | News
Bregu: Balkan Barometer 2019 clearly shows public and business appreciation of regional cooperation and need to strengthen it
Poznan – “There's no better way to stress the need for stepping up the regional cooperation than quoting the citizens and businesses of the Western Balkans (WB) who overwhelmingly, with 74% and 67% respectively, believe in regional cooperation. The recent success with dropping of roaming charges WB-wide as of 1 of July is an example of how regional cooperation is becoming a steady pattern ...
01 July 2019 | News
Roaming Prices Drastically Drop across Western Balkans: Speak more, surf more – pay less!
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is happy to announce that as of today, roaming prices across the entire Western Balkans (WB) have dropped drastically. Citizens of the WB will be able to speak, surf, SMS much more and pay much less.
27 May 2019 | News
Bregu: Investing in human capital paves the way towards economic development of the region
Istanbul – “Much needed sustainable transformation of the region into a knowledge-based economy with equal opportunities for all citizens is a comprehensive agenda. It combines innovation, research and development, education, employment and social inclusion policies. We cannot continue focusing on economic growth strategy without addressing the Human Capital Development”, said Majlinda Bregu, ...
13 May 2019 | News
Region works to implement “Speak more, pay less” principle the Western Balkans committed to
Brussels – “One month after the signing of the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2) for the Western Balkans (WB) at the Digital Summit on 4 April 2019 in Belgrade, the focus is on steps needed to ensure its smooth, uniform and efficient implementation. WB citizens and all our partners are very keen to see positive results and we should make best efforts to succeed,” said Gazmend Turdiu, ...
09 May 2019 | News
Bregu: Divided we fall, united we stand
Sarajevo – “Western Balkan economies are united by need and a sense of emergency and awareness that there is a clear reason why regions come together in the world. Divided we cannot stand, because we are small economies, each one with its own problems. But all together we could be an interesting market. This is why we should be more focused on regional cooperation, as it is a very model ...
04 April 2019 | News
Region seals the deal – 2021 roaming free Western Balkans
Belgrade – “A deal is a destination! Today’s signature of the Roaming Free Agreement is a step that makes a difference in the region. Amid all scepticism let us say loudly: Europe delivers”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) upon signing of the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA) at the second WB Digital Summit in Belgrade ...
01 April 2019 | News
RoamLike@Home in the Western Balkans: People see it as important as free movement; businesses believe it will spur trade
Sarajevo – The people of the Western Balkans (WB), businessman/woman, travellers, students, youngsters, everybody, are in unison when it comes to bringing down the roaming charges in the region – they are looking forward to it and see it as a great benefit to them personally and their businesses. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has asked people in all 6 region’s capitals what ...
26 March 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans Digital Summit and Poznan Summit are our chances to showcase we can deliver together as a region
Brussels – “Upcoming second WB Digital Summit in Belgrade, as well as the Poznan Summit are our chances to showcase that we can deliver together as a region,” said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, at the meeting of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) Coordinators from the six Western Balkan economies (WB6), in ...
21 March 2019 | News
RCC Secretary General Bregu calls for more efficient future action and better communication with the citizens
Sarajevo – Coordination Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe’s growth Strategy (SEE 2020) has met in Sarajevo today, to reflect on the implementation results, identify potential action synergies for further cooperation as well as post-2020 regional priorities and strategic framework.
20 March 2019 | News
Turdiu: Our task is to translate political will and commitments into concrete actions and results
Tirana – The Western Balkan Six (WB6) Component Contact Points (CCPs) in charge for implementation and monitoring of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) reflected on the results of MAP REA implementation during the period July-December 2018, at their third meeting, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Tirana yesterday.
19 February 2019 | News
Preparations for the 2nd Western Balkans' Digital Summit enter its final stage
Belgrade – The preparations for the upcoming 2nd edition of the Western Balkans' Digital Summit entered its final stage.
18 February 2019 | News
Once Western Balkans reach new roaming agreement among itself, EU ready for reduction of roaming tariffs between WB and EU, as of July 2019
Skopje – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu is in Skopje today, where she met with the EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel.
08 February 2019 | News
‘Roam Like at Home’ speak more, pay less: Western Balkans agrees on text of new Regional Roaming Agreement
Brussels – Representatives of the ICT Ministries and Regulators from Western Balkans Six (WB6) economies agreed on the text and the next steps leading towards signing of the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2), at the third negotiations organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels today.
01 February 2019 | News
30 million EUR earmarked for Western Balkans in Broadband connectivity under Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF)
30 million EUR are earmarked for the investment projects in digital infrastructure (fixed broadband connectivity) for the Western Balkans, through the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF).
24 January 2019 | News
RCC: ‘Roam Like at Home’ speak more, pay less
Brussels – The second round of negotiations on the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2) for the Western Balkans (WB), organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), is being held in Brussels today.
13 December 2018 | News
Western Balkans moving towards a roaming free region
Brussels – Representatives of the economies from the Western Balkans (WB) gathered in Brussels today to discuss on the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA), at the meeting of the Western Balkans Roaming Policy organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
27 November 2018 | News
Meeting on Cybersecurity and CSIRTs Cooperation in Western Balkans: Cybersecurity a necessity of modern societies
Limassol - Western Balkans’ Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) met in Limassol, Cyprus today, within International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Cyber Drill - ALERT (Applied Learning for Emergency Response Teams) for Europe Region that is taking place to from 26-30 November 2018. The meeting was co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), ITU and The Geneva Centre ...
21 November 2018 | News
Svilanovic: Western Balkans should work on preserving its environment and address climate change, regardless of its EU accession process
Skopje – Western Balkans ministers in charge of the environment called for further strengthening of synergies and regional cooperation for the implementation of the environment and climate change priorities in the region, in line with the EU acquis, as well as supported mainstreaming of environment, climate and sustainable development objectives in all policy areas, enhancing cross-sector ...
20 November 2018 | News
Skopje to host 3rd Ministerial Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans
Skopje – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising the 3rd in row Ministerial Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, which is to take place in Skopje tomorrow. The event is organized together with the host Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.
06 November 2018 | News
Western Balkans continues regional discussions to decrease roaming prices
Brussels – Representatives of the Western Balkans (WB) economies started the discussions for the adoption of the new Regional Roaming Agreement aimed at reducing the roaming prices for the benefits of all Western Balkan consumers, covering calls, SMS and data traffic for the entire region.
09 October 2018 | News
RCC hosts the third meeting of MAP REA Coordinators from Western Balkan Six
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted the 3rd meeting of Coordinators of Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) on Regional Economic Area (REA) in Western Balkan Six (WB6), discussing the implementation results, next milestones, the most pressing challenges and reiterating commitments, in Brussels today.
11 July 2018 | News
RCC Secretary General takes part at the Western Balkans London Summit
The Secretary General of the regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, took part at the Western Balkans (WB) Summit on 10 July in London.
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.
05 July 2018 | News
Major milestone in SEE 2020 Strategy implementation: Western Balkans ADDS more than 600 000 JOBS
Brussels – Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) endorsed the 2018 Annual Report on Strategy’s implementation (ARI), at its fifth meeting held in Brussels today, in the eve of the presentation of the RCC’s Balkan barometer 2018.
04 July 2018 | News
Svilanovic: Notable progress achieved in the implementation of Multi-Annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans
Vienna – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Goran Svilanovic presented key results of the implementation of Multi-Annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) at the ministerial panel dedicated to this topic of the Economy Ministers’ Meeting of the London Western Balkans Summit held in Vienna 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 ...
25 June 2018 | News
Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans Launched in Sofia
Sofia – Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans (WB) was launched in Sofia today, at the Digital Assembly 2018, a key annual policy event organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), that gathers more than 1,000 stakeholders and policymakers to debate EU ...
12 June 2018 | News
RCC hosts regional meeting on coordination and harmonization of spectrum policies in the Western Balkans
Prague - Coordination and harmonisation of spectrum policies in the Western Balkans (WB) was discussed at the regional meeting organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) that took place in Prague, Chez Republic today.
06 June 2018 | News
RCC publishes Study on Climate Change in the Western Balkans: Alarming increase of temperature over the whole territory
Sarajevo – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) published a Study on climate change in the Western Balkans, showing alarming increase of temperature over the whole territory, with observed temperature increase of 1.2ºC in the near future, destined to warm further by 1.7 – 4.0°C and even exceeding 5.0°C by the end of the century, depending on the global effort in greenhouse gasses ...
30 May 2018 | News
Climate Change Discussed at the meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment
Skopje - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning hosted the 7th meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment (RWG Env) in Skopje, today.
18 May 2018 | News
RCC Presents Preliminary Findings of the SEE 2020 Draft Annual Implementation Report to Monitoring Committee
Podgorica - Monitoring Committee of the South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy met for the 6th time, under auspice of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in Podgorica today, to discuss and provide comments on the Strategy’s early draft Annual Implementation Report (ARI).
17 May 2018 | News
RCC at the Sofia Western Balkans Summit: Regional Cooperation Council proliferated regional cooperation across all sectors
Sofia – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, took part at the EU-Western Balkans Summit hosted by the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU, in Sofia today. The Summit is dedicated to strengthen links between the EU and the Western Balkans in infrastructure, digital and human connectivity. It brought together EU and WB leaders, as well as ...
15 May 2018 | News
RCC presents draft MAP REA Implementation Monitoring Report
Tirana - Component Contact Points (CCPs) of the Multiannual Action Plan for the Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) for the Western Balkans Six (WB6) met for the second time at the meeting convened by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in Tirana today, to discuss monitoring results and reporting on MAP REA implementation.
19 April 2018 | News
Skopje: The first Western Balkans Digital Summit finishes
Skopje – The first ever, two-day Western Balkans Digital Summit finished in Skopje today. It brought together close to 800 participants, 50 companies and more than 50 speakers, including Prime Ministers and Ministers responsible for digital agenda from the Western Balkans (WB), EU Berlin Process participants, representatives of European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council ...
18 April 2018 | News
The first Western Balkans Digital Summit opens in Skopje
Skopje – The first ever Western Balkans Digital Summit, bringing together Prime Ministers and Ministers responsible for digital agenda from the Western Balkans (WB), EU Berlin Process participants, European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), representatives of IT industries and businesses, academia, and youth, opened in Skopje today.
05 April 2018 | News
Western Balkans Roaming Policy Actions Discussed at the Meeting in Brussels
Brussels - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) together with the European Commission (EC) brought together the representatives from the Western Balkans economies’ line ministries and regulatory authorities, relevant experts from EC’s Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) and DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR) as ...
03 April 2018 | News
Skopje to host the first Western Balkans Digital Summit
Skopje – The first Western Balkans Digital Summit is to take place on 18-19 April in Skopje, bringing together Heads of Governments from the Western Balkans (WB), Ministers responsible for digital agenda from WB and European Union (EU) member states participating in the Berlin Process, European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), representatives from IT industries and ...
16 March 2018 | News
Svilanovic at the meeting of WB Foreign Ministers in Sarajevo: It is “action time” for the Western Balkans
Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, takes part in the meeting of Western Balkans (WB) Six Foreign Ministers in Sarajevo today. The meeting is dedicated to the recently published EU’s strategy on the enlargement perspective of the region, implementation of the Berlin Process’ 2017 Trieste Summit outcomes, and preparation ...
13 March 2018 | News
RCC hosts 4th Donor Coordination Meeting for the Western Balkans
Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is hosting the 4th Annual Meeting of Donor Coordination for the Western Balkans, in Brussels today.
12 March 2018 | News
SEE 2020 Strategy Implementation: Programming Document for period 2018-2020 endorsed by the Strategy’s Participants
Brussels – Representatives of the South East Europe’s (SEE) economies participating in implementation SEE 2020 Strategy endorsed the Programming Document for the period 2018-2020, at the 6th Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels, under auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), today, 12 March 2018.
05 March 2018 | News
Western Balkans’ Regional Economic Area on the Agenda of Kopaonik Business Forum 2018
Kopaonik – Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic moderated a panel titled ‘Western Balkans - challenges: Regional economic area?’ within the 25th edition of the Kopanonik Business Forum, at Kopaonik today.
30 January 2018 | News
Second Meeting of MAP Coordinators and B2G Meeting on MAP takes place in Trieste
Trieste – The second meeting of the Coordinators for the RCC’s Multi Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans six (WB6) took place in Trieste today. The meeting provided an overview on the key developments in MAP implementation in each of the WB6 economies and defined clear deliverables/targets for the Sofia and London Summits this spring/summer.
20 December 2017 | News
Preparations for Western Balkans Digital Summit 2018 Continue
Berlin - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the European Commission and German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy continued with preparations of the Western Balkans (WB) Digital Summit 2018 at the two-day meeting held in Berlin, Germany on 19-20 December 2017. This meeting is a follow-up of the constituting meeting held at RCC in Sarajevo in October.
18 December 2017 | News
RCC Secretary General takes part the Berlin Process’s meeting of Western Balkans Sherpas
Brussels – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, took part at the meeting of the Berlin process’ Sherpas, organized by the European Commission, in Brussels today. The meeting focused on each of the Western Balkans (WB) economies’ reform measures in implementing the Multiannual Actin Plan (MAP) to create a Regional Economic Area in WB ...
08 December 2017 | News
First Regional Meeting on the Digital Integration
Brussels - The first regional meeting on Digital Integration, in line with the Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) activities on the implementation of the Multi Annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA), was held in Brussels on 7-8 December 2017.
21 November 2017 | News
RCC: Chisinau Hosts Cyber Security Drill for Europe and CIS Regions
Chisinau – Three-day cyber drill - Joint ALERT (Applied Learning for Emergency Response Teams) for Europe and CIS Regions, hosted by Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of Moldova, has started in Moldovan capital today.
17 November 2017 | News
Bonn: Western Balkans reaffirms its strong commitment to regional cooperation in addressing environmental and climate challenges
Bonn – Western Balkans authorities in charge of the environmental and climate change gathered at high-level panel in Bonn, Germany today, voicing strong commitment to joint regional action in responding to environmental and climate challenges. The event was organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia.
31 October 2017 | News
RCC hosts the first meeting of coordinators for the Western Balkans Regional Economic Area
Brussels - Following the Trieste Western Balkans (WB) Summit and the endorsement of the RCC’s Multi Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the WB6, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Western Balkans Chamber Investment Forum (CIF), organized the first Meeting of the MAP coordinators that ended in Brussels today.
17 October 2017 | News
RCC: Implementation of the action plan for Regional Economic Area – preparations for the 2018 Western Balkans Digital Summit begin
Sarajevo – Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) for the Regional Economic Area (REA), endorsed at the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste this year, commenced today in the area of digital integration.
06 October 2017 | News
RCC to present its Balkan Barometer 2017 – a perception survey of citizens and business communities on the situation in the region
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present its 3rd edition of the public and business opinion survey – Balkan Barometer 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, on 9 October 2017.
25 July 2017 | News
RCC hosts regional meeting on development of energy management in public sector
Jahorina - 1st regional meeting on development of system for energy management in public sector, hosted by Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), took place on Jahorina today.
12 July 2017 | News
Trieste: Six Western Balkans leaders endorse Regional Economic Area
Trieste - The leaders of Western Balkans Six (WB6) endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP), at the summit in Trieste today. The MAP has been created to enable unobstructed flow of goods, services, capital and highly skilled labour, making the region more attractive for investment and commerce, accelerating convergence with ...
28 June 2017 | News
Annual report on SEE 2020 Strategy implementation endorsed
Dubrovnik – Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) SEE 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) endorsed the Annual Report on Strategy’s implementation (ARI). The fourth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Governing Board was held in Dubrovnik today, in the eve of the RCC’s Annual meeting.
20 June 2017 | News
Regional efforts in combating climate challenges discussed at the 5th meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment
Belgrade – Regional Group on Environment (RWG Env) met for the fifth time in Belgrade today to discuss current environmental challenges and actions forward.
11 May 2017 | News
Western Balkans’ economies continue preparations for the upcoming Triste Summit at the joint RCC-CEFTA-European Commission Workshop
Sarajevo – Representatives of the Western Balkan (WB) six economies coming from ministries in charge of labour, education, trade, investments, digital agenda, foreign affairs as well as representatives of prime ministers gathered in Sarajevo today to identify joint economic integration initiatives and priority areas that could be presented at the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste, ...
26 April 2017 | News
RCC: Western Balkans is not to be left out from the Pan-European digital infrastructure map
Vilnius – “Western Balkans is not to be left out from the Pan-European digital infrastructure map. However, it must develop future-proof broadband policies and targets and accelerate high-speed broadband roll-out”, said Gazmend Turdiu, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum ...
03 March 2017 | News
Trans-European networks and connectivity agenda in focus of inter-parliamentary conference in Pristina
Pristina/Sarajevo – Trans-European networks policy and connectivity agenda were the focus of discussion of members of parliaments from the enlargement aspirant economies, South-East Europe Cooperation Process Parliamentary Assembly (SEECP PA) and the European Parliament (EP) at inter-parliamentary conference held in Pristina today.
25 November 2016 | News
Western Balkans need to concentrate regional efforts towards digitalisation
Skopje/Sarajevo – The second regional meeting on Broadband Infrastructure Development, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat took place in Skopje today. The participants of the meeting were acquainted with the EU's newest regulatory framework for broadband deployment and the set of selected best practices from the EU countries. They discussed the telecomm-related ...
18 October 2016 | News
RCC: Initial insights of draft Regional Roaming Study presented to Western Balkans governments and regulatory agencies’
Sarajevo/Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat presented the initial insights of the draft Regional Roaming Study to the governments’ and communication regulatory agencies’ representatives from the Western Balkans, in Brussels today.
27 September 2016 | News
Roaming in the region could be harmonised with the EU even before accession, RCC to provide support in this
“Further to our long-standing support for regional cooperation in the ICT sphere as part of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy, our efforts focus on delivering concrete contributions on two regional initiatives: on roaming and broadband. Roaming is the area where our economies could be harmonised with the EU even before accession, and RCC will support them in this,” said the ...
30 May 2016 | News
SEE 2020 Strategy implementation shows a mixed bag of results in the past year
Pravets – The Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy heard the Annual Report on the Strategy’s implementation (ARI) at its third meeting held in Pravets (Bulgaria) today.
01 April 2016 | News
Climate change and environment – Crucial issues for SEE
Sarajevo/Podgorica - The First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) took place today in Podgorica. The meeting was opened by the Montenegrin Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenovic; the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic; the Executive Director ...
30 March 2016 | News
Climate change and environment issues in focus on Friday in Podgorica
Sarajevo/Podgorica - The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat are co-organising the First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) this Friday, 1 April 2016 in Podgorica.
01 March 2016 | News
Balkans Bioenergy Task Force kicks-off
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) jointly hosted the kick-off meeting of the Balkans Bioenergy Task Force (BBTF). The main goal of the BBTF is to provide a permanent regional dialogue and an advocacy platform for more structured regional cooperation and networking in the field of bioenergy.
19 February 2016 | News
RCC to actively participate in future roaming policy in Western Balkans
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will help agree on future roaming policy among the telecommunications regulators in Western Balkans. This was concluded in Skopje today at the first meeting of Open Communications Platform at the level of line ministries and regulatory bodies for electronic communications with the overall aim of further linking the economies, reducing costs and providing ...
08 February 2016 | News
More work on biodiversity protection a regional “must do”
Sarajevo, February 8th 2016 – Even though the governments of South-East Europe developed an initial political and legal framework for the conservation of biodiversity, the operational implementation is lagging behind and positive results from conservation efforts are limited. In a nutshell, these are the conclusions of last week’s major conference in Belgrade which marked the launch of ...
04 February 2016 | News
Protecting biodiversity on a regional level is a must
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) launched its regional project for Biodiversity today in Belgrade with a two day conference which aims to explore the synergies between current regional biodiveristy conservation initiatives, create targeted partnerships to achieve sustainable goals and set priorities of the subprojects which will be developed. The three year ...
30 September 2015 | News
Towards a Single Information Space
South-East European Ministers responsible for Information Technologies who gathered at the Budva Conference today expressed their strong common interest in participating in the creation of a single information space.
21 May 2015 | News
Governing Board of RCC’s SEE2020 Strategy Meets in Tirana
TIRANA/SARAJEVO – The South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) Governing Board held its second meeting in Tirana today. The SEE 2020 Strategy is the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) primary instrument for boosting growth in the region, creating jobs and assisting the EU accession process. The Strategy was adopted in November 2013 and today’s meeting of the Governing Board was ...
19 May 2015 | News
RCC helps establish the Regional Working Group on Environment
Podgorica/Sarajevo, 18 May 2015 - The inaugural meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment was held in Podgorica last week (May 14th ) under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council.
22 May 2014 | News
Air Transport potentials in South East Europe focus of Sarajevo Conference
Conference titled “Air Transport as a Driver for Development and Economic Prosperity in the South East Europe” was held at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today.
08 November 2013 | News
Sarajevo roundtable agrees to intensify regional cooperation on integrated water resources management in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – Closer regional cooperation of water, energy and environmental sectors on the sustainable use of waters; involvement of private sector in water infrastructure development; and introduction of a regional legal and coordination instrument to ensure achievement of these goals, are key issues South East Europe (SEE) needs to address in water resources management and hydropower ...
05 November 2013 | News
Roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe to open in Sarajevo tomorrow, hosted by RCC
SARAJEVO – A three-day international roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe (SEE) will open in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, tomorrow, 6 November.
27 September 2013 | News
2nd railway congress ends in Sarajevo, agrees to work on common railway system in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – A two-day Congress on Railways in South East Europe ended in Sarajevo today, with over 250 participants from eleven countries agreeing to work on a common railway system in the region.
26 April 2013 | News
10 aviation organizations to sign letter of intent on joint service provision in South East Europe, under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – Representatives of 10 national aviation authorities and air navigation service providers will sign a Letter of Intent on the Joint Service Provision Area Initiative in South East Europe, in Sarajevo, on 29 April, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
19 March 2013 | News
New work programme of South East Europe Investment Committee to focus on SEE 2020 growth strategy
SARAJEVO - The South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) adopted an updated work programme at its meeting in Sarajevo today, focused on development of the South East Europe 2020 regional growth strategy.
18 March 2013 | News
South East Europe 2020 growth strategy in focus of regional meeting, to be held in Sarajevo tomorrow, under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – Development of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 regional growth strategy and its implementation will be the main topics of the 12th South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) Meeting, which will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow.
11 March 2013 | News
Seven German ambassadors from Western Balkans and foreign ministry discuss regional issues, express support to RCC work
SARAJEVO - Ambassadors of Germany in Belgrade, Podgorica, Prishtina, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana, accompanied by colleagues from the foreign ministry, discussed political situation in Western Balkans and the region’s European perspective during a visit to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today.
21 September 2012 | News
3rd road congress wraps up in Sarajevo, agrees ways to develop road infrastructure in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – A two-day Road Congress in South East Europe ended in Sarajevo today, with over 400 participants from ten countries agreeing to establish a professional regional forum for the development of the road sector.
12 September 2012 | News
RCC, EC organized meeting proposes extension of Single European Sky Programme in South East Europe beyond 2012
OHRID/SARAJEVO – The third Governing Body meeting of the Implementation of Single European Sky (ISIS) Programme in South East Europe ended in Ohrid today, approving a progress report and proposing ISIS continuation beyond 2012.
24 October 2011 | News
Conference on urban planning in South East Europe takes place in Sarajevo today, under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – Regulation of informal settlements was the topic of a conference on urban planning in South East Europe, which took place today at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
07 September 2011 | News
RCC, EC organize second meeting on implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe
SOLIN/SARAJEVO – The second conference of the Governing Body for the Implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe (ISIS Programme) concluded today in Solin, Croatia, with a recommendation that competent ministers extend ISIS Programme to a third phase after 2012.
06 July 2011 | News
Serbian President Tadic gives full support to RCC activities in promoting regional cooperation in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, paid a visit today to the Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo, where he expressed full support to the work of the organization during his meeting with RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic.
30 June 2011 | News
Heads of State and Government of South East Europe praise work of Regional Cooperation Council
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – The Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) praised today in Budva the successful implementation of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, endorsing the Annual Report of its Secretary General.
29 June 2011 | News
South East European foreign ministers voice support to RCC activities, endorse its Annual Report
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) countries commended today the work of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Secretary General at a meeting in Budva, Montenegro.
28 June 2011 | News
Regional cooperation in South East Europe encouraging, says RCC Secretary General at the organization’s Annual Meeting
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – “Regional cooperation in South East Europe has exhibited encouraging signs over the past year“ said Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), while opening the organization's third Annual Meeting in the Montenegrin town of Becici near Budva, on 28 June 2011.
16 May 2011 | News
RCC to host fundraising event for International Sava River Basin Commission projects
SARAJEVO – A roundtable on fundraising for projects of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) will be held at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, tomorrow, 17 May.
19 April 2011 | News
Conference on road infrastructure safety in South East Europe to open in Sarajevo tomorrow
SARAJEVO – The second Conference on Road Infrastructure Safety Management in South East Europe, aimed at halving the number of traffic accidents in the region by 2020, will open in Sarajevo tomorrow.
31 March 2011 | News
Western Balkans and Europe 2020 conference agrees RCC best suited to help align regional programmes with Europe 2020
BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Over 100 participants of a Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth conference of regional initiatives and international donors concluded in Brussels today that the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the institution most apt to help align regional programmes with goals of Europe 2020 strategy of the European Union (EU).
24 March 2011 | News
RCC-organized conference on Western Balkans and Europe 2020 to discuss growth in the region, gather close to 50 institutions and donors
SARAJEVO/BRUSSELS – A Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth coordination meeting of regional initiatives and interested donor institutions will take place in Brussels, on 30-31 March 2011. The event will be organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
04 March 2011 | News
Prospects for regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2011 and beyond focus of the 3rd RCC anniversary celebration
SARAJEVO – A panel discussion South East Europe in 2011 and Beyond: Sharing the Same Vision will be held in Sarajevo, on Monday, 7 March, to mark the third anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
22 November 2010 | News
Stronger national airspace authorities in South East Europe focus of a Sarajevo workshop, organized by RCC and Belgian EU Presidency
SARAJEVO – A three-day workshop on establishment and empowerment of airspace National Supervisory Authorities (NSA), will open tomorrow at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
24 October 2010 | News
Energy Community, RCC to host workshop on reducing emissions in the energy sector in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – A two-day workshop on reducing pollutions from the power industry in South East Europe will commence in Sarajevo tomorrow, co-organized by the Secretariats of the Energy Community (EnC) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
08 October 2010 | News
South-East and Eastern European initiative on sustainable energy development launched in Trieste today
TRIESTE/SARAJEVO – A regional initiative on sustainable energy development was launched today in Trieste, Italy, at its first task force meeting. The meeting was organized jointly by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI).
15 September 2010 | News
RCC Secretary General to outline the organization’s new three-year strategy at a press conference in Sarajevo tomorrow
SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, will present the organization’s new strategy for 2011-2013, and outline the main activities scheduled for this autumn, at a press conference in Sarajevo, tomorrow, 16 September.
25 June 2010 | News
Albanian parliament hosts workshop on Energy Community, with Regional Cooperation Council support
Implementation of the Energy Community (EnC) Treaty was the main topic of a workshop on Energy Community and Regional Sustainability, which took place in Tirana today. The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Albanian national assembly, with support of the EnC Secretariat.
14 April 2010 | News
Regional Cooperation Council launches redesigned website and new publication, a monthly newsletter
SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat launched today a redesigned version of the organization’s website and a new publication, the monthly e-newsletter.
04 March 2010 | News
RCC Board starts discussing the organization's strategy for the next three years
SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board discussed today the first draft of the new, three-year Strategic Work Programme of the organization for the period 2011-2013.
23 February 2010 | News
International conference on overcoming economic crisis in Western Balkans to mark 2nd RCC anniversary
SARAJEVO – A two-day regional conference “Western Balkans in 2020 – Overcoming the Economic Crisis and Developing Competitive Economies” will open in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, will also mark the 2nd anniversary of the organization.
10 February 2010 | News
RCC-organized workshop on air transport in South East Europe to take place in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – A workshop on importance of air transport for the economic and social development of South East Europe will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, 11 February, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
22 December 2009 | News
First meeting of Regional Expert Network on Energy in South East Europe takes place at RCC Secretariat
A two-day initial meeting of the Regional Expert Network on Energy in South East Europe (SEE), which ended today at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo, discussed the energy policies in the region and its future activities, and produced appropriate documents in terms of its work plan and agenda.
14 December 2009 | News
Workshop on energy security for Bosnia and Herzegovina lawmakers to take place in Sarajevo tomorrow
SARAJEVO – The workshop “Energy Community and Regional Security“, will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow, focusing on the implementation of Energy Community (EnC) Treaty and related market developments in South East Europe. The event is co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with support of the EnC Secretariat.
03 December 2009 | News
RCC Board discusses future strategic focuses of organization's activities and supports efforts of its Secretariat in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The 29 members of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board discussed today in Sarajevo further strategic prioritization of activities of the organization and gave full support to its Secretariat in these efforts.
27 November 2009 | News
South East European Public-Private Partnership Network to be launched in Sarajevo next week
SARAJEVO – The South East European Public-Private Partnership (SEE PPP) Network will be launched in Sarajevo on Monday, 30 November, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
17 September 2009 | News
First meeting of prominent experts from South East Europe on regional response to economic crisis takes place in Sarajevo under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – A panel of high-level experts from South East Europe (SEE) met in Sarajevo today to stimulate in depth discussion on regional response to global economic crisis. The first such meeting in the region was held under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
15 September 2009 | News
RCC Board discusses situation in South East Europe and praises work of the organization’s Secretariat in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, presented his latest quarterly report on the activities of the RCC Secretariat to the 29 members of the organization's Board, who gathered in Sarajevo today. The report covers the period between 9 May and 9 September 2009.
08 June 2009 | News
RCC co-organized workshop on energy security held in Belgrade
A workshop “Energy Community and Regional Security”, co-organized by the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, with support of the Energy Community (EC) Secretariat, was held in Belgrade today.
28 May 2009 | News
Regional meeting on protection of endangered habitats and species in South East Europe to take place in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – A regional meeting on NATURA 2000 (protection of sites for endangered habitats and species) will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event is organized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), under the EU-funded Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP), in cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council ...
20 May 2009 | News
Shared water resources management important component of stability in South East Europe, agrees RCC-hosted international conference
SARAJEVO – A three-day International Workshop on Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management in South Eastern Europe (SEE) concluded in Sarajevo today that cooperation on shared water resources management is a crucial component of stability and prosperity in SEE. The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission ...
17 May 2009 | News
International workshop on management of water resources in South East Europe to start in Sarajevo tomorrow
SARAJEVO – A three-day international workshop on management of transboundary water resources in South East Europe (SEE), co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, 18 May.
14 November 2008 | News
Environmental ministers launch plan for adapting to climate change in Southeast Europe
SARAJEVO – Five ministers launched the Southeast European (SEE) Climate Change Framework Action Plan for Adaptation at a conference held in Sarajevo today, thus making a concrete commitment to regional cooperation in combating climate change.
13 November 2008 | News
RCC to host first ministerial conference on combating climate change in Southeast Europe
SARAJEVO – The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will host the first Ministerial Conference on Combating Climate Change in Southeast Europe (SEE), in Sarajevo tomorrow.
24 October 2008 | News
Southeast Europe should make best use of its potential for energy transport routes, says RCC Secretary General in Prague
PRAGUE/SARAJEVO – The Southeast European governments should design transnational projects in energy sector to enhance regional energy infrastructure links and make the best use of geo-economic potential for transport routes from energy sources through Southeast Europe to Western Europe, said RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at the two-day Prague European Energy Forum which ends today.
27 June 2008 | News
RCC Secretary General takes part in ministerial meeting on implementation of Energy Community Treaty for SEE
BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Implementation of the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community for South Eastern Europe was the topic of the meeting of the EC Ministerial Council held in Brussels today.