News Archive
12 March 2024 | News
RCC announces Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year for 2023
Sarajevo - Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year for 2023 are: Rigerta Loku - Green Woman Entrepreneur; Ilda Humić - Social Star Woman Entrepreneur; Hana Qerimi - Young Woman Entrepreneur; Nikolina Kovačević - Tourism Woman Entrepreneur; Irena Chaushevska Danilovska - ICT Woman Entrepreneur; and Marija Ivanković Jurišić - Artistic Woman Entrepreneur; as announced at ...
08 March 2024 | News
Women’s economic empowerment is not a luxury
“The most dangerous phrase in the language is “We’ve always done it this way”. It’s 8 March today, and the buzzword you are getting from all around is “Women’s day”. So, the note of ours on this day is on women. Women continue to face disadvantage and discrimination in all areas of economic life. Mothers around the Western Balkans are particularly ...
12 December 2023 | News
RCC Reveals Winners of the 2023 Regional Butterfly Innovation Award
Sofia – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) revealed the winners of the 2023 Regional Butterfly Innovation Award, at a ceremony RCC organized with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, held in Sofia today. “Congratulations - we hope the Butterfly Innovation Award supports you in navigating challenging markets. Several of last year’s awardees have enhanced their ...
11 December 2023 | News
European Union-Western Balkans Cooperation in Focus This Week
RCC to present winners of the Regional Butterfly Innovation Award 2023 in Sofia The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the winners of the second edition of Regional Butterfly Innovation Award at a ceremony co-organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, on 12 December 2023 in Sofia. The Awards will be presented by the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu ...
24 November 2023 | News
Bregu: Can you put a price tag on people leaving the region? In a way, yes, you can.
Western Balkans is ranked among some of the economies most affected by brain drain, with expectations to lose around one million young people in the coming decade. People leaving the region does not only pose a risk to workforce availability but also threatens additional pressure to health care and pension systems in the region as well. If these projections are to come true, the Western Balkans ...
19 October 2023 | News
Imagine. Innovate. Create: RCC opens applications for Butterfly Innovation Award 2023
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is inviting creative minds to apply for the 2nd round of Regional Butterfly Innovation Award for innovative, scalable, and market-based solutions from the Western Balkans. The Butterfly Innovation Award fund is set at 30,000 EUR, where the best solution in each of the 6 categories will get the prize of 5,000 EUR.
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, ...
03 February 2023 | News
RCC: Nominations for Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 open
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is happy to announce that the nomination process for the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 has begun! The RCC launched this initiative last year in the framework of the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2021-2024 and the Women Economic Empowerment Agenda to recognise women who have started and developed their own ...
18 January 2023 | News
Bregu: To have wider choices, earn more, and live better - Choose STEM Future
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching a campaign dubbed “Choose STEM future” to encourage young women and girls to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) by bringing forth inspiring role models of successful women in STEM profession from the Western Balkans (WB). This campaign was created as part of the regional Women ...
24 November 2022 | News
Looking at Social Ability to Provide Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Sarajevo – In the Western Balkans economies “most of the progress was registered in the areas of inclusion of children with disabilities, especially in the process of deinstitutionalisation of children with disability, inclusive education and support services offered at the community level”, reads the Regional Overview of Western Balkan Economies Regarding the European Pillar ...
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 ...
28 June 2022 | News
Bregu: Having an environment that supports innovation and creativity helps our democracies to be stronger
Tirana – “There is a political decision on when our economies will become full EU member states, but there is also a responsibility all of us carry on how to make our economies closer to the European standards present here in this region. So, for all of us who share a sense of discomfort after the last week’s EU summit, I have to say there are deep and concrete figures and ...
28 June 2022 | News
Bregu: We hope Butterfly Innovation Award will shine a light on the regional innovation community and its undiscovered potential
Tirana – “This spring we launched the first Regional Butterfly Innovation Award. ‘What is now proved was once only imagination’- this Blake’s quote fits perfectly the 154 ideas in six competing categories - largely exceeded our boldest expectations. Women led almost half of the teams or most team members were women. This competition proves that innovation can ...
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 ...
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 ...
31 March 2022 | News
Imagine. Innovate. Create: RCC Launches Western Balkans Butterfly Innovation Award
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching a Regional Butterfly Innovation Award seeking innovative, scalable and market-based solutions from the Western Balkans. The Butterfly Innovation Award fund is set at 30,000 EUR, where the best solution in each of the 6 categories will get the prize of 5,000 EUR.
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 ...
24 February 2022 | News
Miscevic: Emigration is a major challenge to the Western Balkans, but it could also be a great opportunity
Belgrade – “War risks scrambling the logic of our common endeavour to make the Western Balkans a better region. But let me start with the information that by 2020 more than 4.6 million people have left the Western Balkans. People leave the region for various reasons, mainly because of large income gaps between their home economies and the western region. All this affects the WB ...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
15 April 2021 | News
Bregu: Men outnumber women in the region’s labour force by more than a million
Sarajevo/New York – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched today the Regional Network of Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as part of a RCC-UNDP joint initiative on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE), drawing on the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2021-2024.
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 ...
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 ...
12 June 2020 | News
ESAP 2: Undeclared work in the Western Balkans needs to be formalized, to increase both public revenues and social security
Sarajevo – “The global pandemic caused by the COVID 19 virus has had a profound impact on businesses and workers, as well as economies across the Western Balkans. The undeclared workers, however, have been disproportionately affected since they generally work in low productivity jobs and have little to no savings, and are also mostly excluded from the government’s aid packages. ...
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 ...
23 April 2020 | News
Regional innovation fund could trigger economic recovery of 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.
21 February 2020 | News
Bregu: Without strategic innovation Western Balkans will not turn inventions into investments – we need to think bigger
Tirana – “Without a strategic innovation function that can enhance the capacities to incubate and accelerate new technologies, companies in the Western Balkans will continue to stockpiling undeveloped inventions and this will not return in an investment. We risk falling into the trap of having breakthrough ideas that are incrementally executed. Innovation in the region is 33,7 % while ...
28 January 2020 | News
Bregu: Brain drain the biggest challenge of this decade - Western Balkans working age population declined by more than 400,000 in past 5 years
Sarajevo – “More than 700 000 jobs have been added to the workforce during the past seven years and unemployment has moved for almost a quarter (23%) to around 16%, across the region. They say a tide lifts all boats, large and small. However, not everybody benefited from these economic and labour market improvements during the last decade”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General ...
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 ...
15 October 2019 | News
RCC: Western Balkans pay for undeclared work - with significant portion of public revenues, lack of fair competition and decent working conditions
Sarajevo – “Informal employment is work that is legal in itself but not declared to the authorities for tax, social security and/or labour law purposes. As such, it plays an important role in all Western Balkan economies, as widespread informality deprives governments of potential tax revenue, produces unfair competition and often affects workers’ rights and decent working conditions. ...
15 September 2019 | News
RCC: Listen to women – they are the key to unlocking the economic potential of this region
Sarajevo – Statistics show that more than 700.000 new jobs were created in the past 7 years in the Western Balkans, but only 4.3% of these were taken up by youth under 24 years of age. For a young person it takes about 2 years to get a job.
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 ...
14 June 2019 | News
Economic growth goes hand in hand with human capital development – investment in education must increase
Luxemburg – “Years in a row our opinion survey Balkan Barometer shows that unemployment is the biggest concern for 67% of the citizens in the Western Balkans (WB), and our alarms should have already gone off, triggering adequate reactions. This region has talent everywhere but their skills have to be developed properly. The answer is in coordinated and coherent policies that will ...
04 June 2019 | News
Turdiu: Mobility of students is essential for developing common European values, understanding and appreciation of each other’s’ cultures
Belgrade – Ministers in charge of education from the Western Balkan (WB) economies have welcomed the Declaration on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications in the Western Balkans, at the 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platform on Education and Training organized by the European Commission in Belgrade, 3–4 June 2019 Belgrade, Serbia.
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, ...
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 ...
26 April 2019 | News
RCC’s ESAP: Share of informal employment in Western Balkans ranges from 18 to 33% - holistic approach necessary to tackle this issue
Sarajevo – “Share of informal/undeclared employment in the region varies from 18,1% in Republic of North Macedonia to 33% in Montenegro1 ,”said Nand Shani, Team Leader of the Regional Cooperation (RCC)’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP). Tackling this widespread phenomenon was the main topic of the workshops, organized throughout the Western Balkans by ESAP ...
09 April 2019 | News
Bregu: If we want to move forward a new approach to education, promoting skills and supporting creativity is a must
Ulcinj – “If we want to move forward a new approach to education, promoting skills and supporting creativity is a must, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) addressing the participants of the 1st Forum “Science and Innovation 2030 for the Western Balkans”, organised by the Ministry of Science of Montenegro and Podgorica Club in Ulcinj today.
09 April 2019 | News
Western Balkans agrees to create regional database of research infrastructure
Ulcinj – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) together with the Ministry of Science of Montenegro organised a Regional Workshop on Mapping Research Infrastructure, that took place on 8 April in Ulcinj. The workshop aimed to support the Western Balkan economies in the process of mapping the existing research infrastructure through exchange of practices and experiences. In addition, the ...
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.
31 January 2019 | News
Open Science concept would contribute to Western Balkan societies’ higher return on investment
Brussels – The Western Balkan (WB) economies presented current situation and actions undertaken in the development of Open Science and Open Access policies for research data at the meeting of the Working Group on Open Science, held under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels, yesterday.
21 January 2019 | News
RCC Secretary General: Each negotiation is a story of impact and dialogue for individuals, communities and economies
The 2nd round of negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the Western Balkans (WB) for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers started in Skopje today.
21 December 2018 | News
Western Balkan Six kick-off negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications
Podgorica - The Western Balkan Six (WB6) kicked-off negotiations on an Agreement, which will enable common and shorter procedures for recognition of professional qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers. The appointed negotiations teams from the WB6 economies discussed the Draft Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors ...
13 December 2018 | News
Preparations for the next WB6 Prime Ministers Summit continue at the 4th Meeting of Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications in the Western Balkans
Sarajevo - The 4th meeting of the Joint Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) and Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) took place in Sarajevo today.
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.
14 November 2018 | News
RCC organizes training of teams for negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the Western Balkans
Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) concluded a two-day training session for the negotiations teams who will conduct the negotiations on the Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers between the 6 Western Balkan economies (WB6) in Tirana today. The training was the first step in the ...
30 October 2018 | News
Western Balkans agree to step up the work on research infrastructure
Sarajevo – Six Western Balkan (WB6) economies agreed to step up their work on research infrastructure in the region. Specifically the WB6 agreed to develop policies to open access to the existing research infrastructures (RIs) for researchers from the region, to cooperate in development of national RI Roadmaps as a basis for a regional map of RIs, and to kick off joint work on ...
29 October 2018 | News
RCC ESAP: Supporting exchange of experience on development and implementation of sector budget support
Skopje – Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supported the visit of the Albanian delegation from the Ministry of Economy and Finance to Skopje today.
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.
08 October 2018 | News
Western Balkan Six open negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications of doctors of medicine, dentists, architects and civil engineers
Brussels – The Western Balkans began the negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications of doctors of medicine, dentists, architects and civil engineers at the 1st meeting of Lead Negotiators convened by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels today.
05 October 2018 | News
Local Employment Partnerships in Focus of Regional Peer Review Workshop
Sarajevo/Tesanj/Prnjavor - Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organised a regional 3-day Workshop on Local Employment Partnerships, which started in Sarajevo and continued with field visits to municipalities of Tesanj and Prnjavor that ended today.
31 July 2018 | News
Pristina: ESAP helps Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to develop its monitoring framework
Pristina – In the period April-July 2018, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) through its Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) helped the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Kosovo* to develop the strategy monitoring tools and increase their capacity to plan and perform a monitoring process, including reporting and feedback on the progress in the implementation ...
17 July 2018 | News
Horizon Europe should contribute to closing research & innovation EU-Western Balkans gaps
Western Balkan Six propose recommendations ahead of the adoption of the EC’s research and innovation Horizon Europe programme Sarajevo - Following the conclusions of the meeting of the Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development (R&D) that took place in Brussels on 13 June 2018, the ministries responsible for science of the Western Balkan Six, prepared and issued ...
12 July 2018 | News
RCC's ESAP: Albanian Public Employment Service visits their colleagues in Pristina
Pristina – Upon request of the representatives of the Albanian Public Employment Service (PES), the Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project, within its technical assistance facility, took the Albanian PES on a study visit to their PES colleagues in Pristina.
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 ...
26 June 2018 | News
Western Balkans endorses key principles on recognition of academic qualifications
Brussels – Ministers in charge of education from the Western Balkan economies endorsed a set of key principles on automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the region at the 7th Ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation, organised by the European Commission (EC), in Brussels today. These principles build upon the ...
20 June 2018 | News
Brussels: RCC's ESAP presents Western Balkans employment and labour market trends and developments
Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council' s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) Project presented in Brussels today employment and labour market trends and developments in the Western Balkans (WB). The policy discussion gathered representatives of WB Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES), European Commission’s Directorates-General for Employment, Social ...
19 June 2018 | News
RCC’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project: Joint actions to enhance performance and promote mutual learning among Western Balkans Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services agreed
Brussels - Representatives of the Western Balkans (WB) Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) met in Brussels today, within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP), to discuss main trends and challenges in employment and labour markets in the region, as well as key outcomes of regional cooperation ...
14 June 2018 | News
Initial steps towards mutual recognition of Academic Qualifications in Western Balkans made by Joint Regional Working Group
Brussels – Joint Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) has initiated steps towards recognition exercise for the Western Balkans (WB) as well as an online system to support fast-track recognition between Western Balkans economies, at its 3rd meeting held in Brussels today under auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) & Education Reform Initiative ...
13 June 2018 | News
RCC: Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development meets in Brussels
Brussels – The meeting of the Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development (R&D) took place in Brussels on 13 June 2018. The participants focused on the possible participation of the Western Balkans in the Horizon Europe, which is the EC's proposal for a € 100 billion research and innovation funding programme for seven years period (2021-2027). This programme is ...
08 June 2018 | News
RCC’s ESAP Project and Western Balkans’ Public Employment Services invited to present their joint work at Annual Meeting of the EU PES Network
Sofia – Western Balkan’s Public Employment Services (PES) gathered around Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) Project were, for the first time ever, invited to participate as observers in a 9th Annual Meeting of the European Union’s (EU) PES Network, that took place in Sofia, Bulgaria 7-8 June 2018.
31 May 2018 | News
Peers from Ministries' of Labour and PES from the region talk about youth employment
Herceg Novi – Representatives of the Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) offices from the Western Balkan (WB) economies together with relevant regional and international experts in the field, shared experiences and discussed youth employment programmes at the regional peer-review workshop, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and ...
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 ...
30 April 2018 | News
RCC’s ESAP helps Employment Agency in Pristina in drafting their Rules of Procedure
Pristina – During a two months period at the beginning of 2018, the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) provided expert support in drafting the rules of procedure of the Advisory Board of the newly established Employment Agency of Kosovo*. ESAP also assisted this Employment Agency in the development of internal rules of ...
23 April 2018 | News
RCC’s ESAP help Montenegro Employment Agency in upgrading their Information Technology System
Podgorica – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP)provided technical assistance to the Employment Agency of Montenegro in upgrading the Information Technology System in accordance with the European Employment Service (EURES) requirements.
12 April 2018 | News
RCC with EC Organize Workshop on Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans
Ljubljana - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) of the European Commission co-organised a joint Workshop on Governance of Smart Specialisation (S3) and Training on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in the Western Balkans, which was held at Technology Park in Ljubljana on 11-12 April 2018.
12 April 2018 | News
ESAP: Self-employment programmes in the Western Balkans discussed in Pristina
Prishtina – Representatives of Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) from the Western Balkans discussed self-employment programmes at a two-day regional workshop within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project, held in Prishtina on 11-12 April 2018.
27 March 2018 | News
Exploring models for automatic recognition of academic qualifications in Western Balkans and working on design of a joint exercise and online system for recognition of academic qualifications in Western Balkans
Podgorica - The Joint Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) adopted the Group’s Terms of Reference and the Plan of Work, at their second meeting jointly organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) in Podgorica on 26 March 2018.
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.
21 February 2018 | News
Western Balkans should enhance its competitiveness and improve its market orientation to fight unemployment
Although the Western Balkans region suffered the dramatic employment fall in the period following the global economic crisis 2008-2011, “the situation recovered over the subsequent five years and by 2016 total employment had again reached 6.5 million, representing an increase of 8.9%”, reads recently published report ‘Labour Markets in the Western Balkans: Performance, Causes and Policy ...
30 January 2018 | News
Vocational Training Centres analyse their legal framework with RCC’s ESAP assistance
Pristina – Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) project provided technical assistance to Vocational Training Centres in Kosovo* in analysing their current legal framework and the documents related to vocational training, and proposed a concept for service contracts or Public-Private Partnership arrangements that could ...
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.
29 December 2017 | News
RCC's ESAP assists Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in Pristina to establish an integrated information system
Pristina – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), through its Employment and Social Affairs Project (ESAP), provided a support upon request of Kosovo* on establishing an integrated information system in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. ESAP analysed the current systems and databases and proposed a concept for the new system, including detailed procedures for its ...
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 ...
15 December 2017 | News
The WB 6 Start Work on the Model for Automatic Recognition of Academic Qualifications
Belgrade – By formalising the Joint Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe (ERI SEE) – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) the Western Balkans Six (WB6) have officially started its work on finding the model for automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the region. The 1st formal meeting of the WG RAQ took ...
06 December 2017 | News
Regional Workshop on Smart Specialisation in Research and Development
Brussels – Workshop on Smart Specialization for the Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial Working Group organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was held in Brussels, on 6 December 2017.
05 December 2017 | News
Representatives of the Western Balkans presented developments in Open Science and Open Access policies in their economies together with EU Member States
Brussels - Representatives of the Western Balkans presented developments in Open Science and Open Access policies in their economies together with EU Member States at 5th meeting of the EU network of National Points of Reference on Scientific Information (NPR) in Brussels, on 5 December 2017.
22 November 2017 | News
RCC, ETF continue building human capital in the region
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, and newly appointed Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF), Cesare Onestini, signed an agreement on continuation of cooperation between the two organisations, in Brussels today.
01 November 2017 | News
National Workshops on Public Employment Services Benchlearning kick-off in Pristina
A series of 12 workshops, two per each of the Western Balkans six economies, on Public Employment Services (PES) benchlearning, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employments and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP), kicked-off in Pristina today.
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.
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.
14 September 2017 | News
RCC’s ESAP: Belgrade hosts regional training on benchlearning for Public Employment Services in the Western Balkans
Belgrade - The first ever assessors training on benchlearning for representatives of Public Employment Services (PES) from the Western Balkans, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’ (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Regional Platform (ESAP) project, was held in Belgrade today.
18 August 2017 | News
Sarajevo Film Festival: Heart of Sarajevo for the best student film goes to Neven Samardzic for the film ‘Clean’
Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s film ‘Clean’ (‘Čistoća') was awarded with the 'Heart of Sarajevo' as the Best Student Film of the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), at the official ceremony in Sarajevo last night. This award is being given under the patronage of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
12 August 2017 | News
Sarajevo Film Festival: Competition for Best Student Film kicks-off
Sarajevo – The competition for the 'Heart of Sarajevo' for the Best Student Film of the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), award under the patronage of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), officially kicked off today.
10 August 2017 | News
RCC patron of the 1st Sarajevo Film Festival's Best Student Film Award
Sarajevo – This year the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the international partner of the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) 2017 and patron of the 'Heart of Sarajevo' award for the Best Student Film. The Student Film has been introduced in the competition programme of the SFF for the first time.
18 July 2017 | News
Representatives of Western Balkan Public Employment Services discuss qualitative benchmarking
Tivat - Representatives of Western Balkan Public Employment Services (PES) met in Tivat today to discuss qualitative benchmarking, in the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) regional project.
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 ...
06 July 2017 | News
Working Group on Open Science meets in Brussels and explores e-infrastructure possibilities in the region
Brussels – Regional Working Group on Open Science met in Brussels today. It mapped the existing e-infrastructure and made plans for further development in the Western Balkan economies, in order to support further development of the e-infrastructure in the region.
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.
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, ...
10 May 2017 | News
RCC's ESAP Project assists Montenegro in preparing the new Labour Law
Kolasin – Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supported the Montenegrin Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare by providing technical input and assistance to a national workshop on preparing the new Labour Law.
21 February 2017 | News
Skopje: ESAP co-organises National Consultative Meeting on the Employment and Social Reform Programme
Skopje – The Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) provided support to a National Consultative Meeting on the Employment and Social Reform Programme, held in February 2017 in Skopje.
16 December 2016 | News
Sarajevo hosts first regional ‘Skills Show’ of high school students
Sarajevo – The first regional Skills Show, aiming to link commercial and education sectors in order to improve the overall quality of education in the region, motivate young people to choose vocational schools and ultimately influence the increase of the employment rate, kicked-off in Sarajevo today. The two-day event will merge the format of professional conference, fair representation ...
10 November 2016 | News
RCC with Western Balkan economies presented regional Open Science agenda at 4th EU meeting on Scientific Information
Sarajevo/Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and representatives of seven Western Balkan economies presented their draft plan of activities for the next period and the latest developments in the field of Open Science at the 4th meeting of the network of National Points of Reference on Scientific Information (NPR) of EU member states and the European Commission in Brussels, ...
27 October 2016 | News
Western Balkan's public employment services agree on concrete actions to enhance their work
Belgrade/Sarajevo – Representatives of public employment services (PES) of the Western Balkan economies agreed on concrete steps and actions envisaging future cooperation under the Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project at their first meeting that took place in Belgrade, today.
06 October 2016 | News
Western Balkans Joins the European Open Science Agenda
Seven Western Balkans’ economies joined the European Union (EU) family in pursuing the EU Open Science Agenda at the Open Data and Access in Science meeting organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on the margins of the International Open Data Conference (IODC) on 6-7 October 2016.
14 September 2016 | News
Researcher mobility and open science contributing to research excellence
A workshop on successful facilitation of technology transfer and commercialization of research results in the Western Balkans, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Western Balkan Research and Innovation Center (WISE), took place in Split, Croatia, today.
29 June 2016 | News
ILO and RCC launch project for better labour market governance in the Western Balkans
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will work together to further regional cooperation in order to achieve more effective labour market governance in the Western Balkans. The new joint project, funded by the European Union, was launched in Sarajevo today and presented by Goran Svilanovic, RCC Secretary General, Antonio Graziosi, ...
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.
10 March 2016 | News
European Training Foundation award for RCC
The European Training Foundation (ETF) has recognized RCC’s efforts towards the ETF’s Entrepreneurial Communities Initiative with a special award yesterday. In its capacity as an Advisory Board member, the RCC has - in the past two years - contributed to the selection of ten good practices along with the ETF partner countries.
01 March 2016 | News
Three million euro for boosting jobs in the Western Balkans
Brussels - The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will jointly create a Western Balkans Platform on Employment and Social Affairs in the framework of a new European Commission funded project signed today in Brussels.
18 September 2015 | News
Western Balkans gets Research and Innovation Centre
Western Balkans ministers of science signed in Split today an agreement on establishment of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre (WISE).
17 September 2015 | News
Split to become headquarters of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre
First Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia Vesna Pusić will open the ministerial conference on the occasion of establishment of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre (WISE) tomorrow in Split. Together with the hosts, Vedran Mornar, Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia; Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, ...
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 ...
29 April 2015 | News
RCC: Regional programmes in culture and creative industries are an enormous potential for overall development of societies
Eleventh meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS) ended in Durres, Albania, today.
21 August 2014 | News
RCC and Sarajevo Film Festival’s round table on “Regional cooperation in the audio visual sector”
SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Sarajevo Film Festival are organizing this Friday a round table on regional cooperation in the audio visual sector. This round table, on the margins of the Sarajevo Film Festival, aims to re-confirm the consensus and commitment of the RCC Western Balkans members to contribute and develop further the regional programme ...
28 June 2014 | News
Joint South East European initiative presented to UNESCO
OHRID/SARAJEVO - The Ministers of Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia handed over a joint nominations dossier to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Secretary General, Irina Bokova. The “Stećci Nomination Dossier” represents an unprecedented example of regional cooperation in the field of culture and is a joint ...
28 May 2014 | News
Implementation of two EU grants for rehabilitation of Western Balkans cultural heritage almost completed
The ninth meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS), marking the entering into the final phase of implementation of the Ljubljana Process II – Rehabilitating Our Common Heritage, ended in Ulcinj, Montenegro, today.
02 April 2014 | News
RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy: Regional Action Plan for implementation of Western Balkans Research and Development Strategy for Innovation adopted
Under the guidance of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, the Steering Committee of representatives of ministries of science from the Western Balkan countries, adopted in Split today the Regional Action Plan for 2014, defining specific activities for implementation of the Western Balkans Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation.
25 February 2014 | News
EU invests 100,000 euro in rehabilitating 8 cultural heritage sites in Western Balkans through RCC Task Force; more funds to follow
SARAJEVO/PODGORICA – 100,000 euro worth works on rehabilitating eight cultural heritage sites in four Western Balkans countries have been completed, informed the meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Task Force on Culture and Society that ended in Podgorica, Montenegro, today.
25 October 2013 | News
Western Balkan Countries Develop Joint Strategy for Innovation-Based Economic Growth
ZAGREB – The Western Balkans Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation was adopted today in Zagreb by the ministers of science from the region during the ministerial meeting on regional R&D.
09 September 2013 | News
RCC to present South East Europe 2020 strategy for creating 1 million jobs in the region
SARAJEVO – The first draft of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy for creating one million new jobs in the region will be presented in Skopje tomorrow. The document is being prepared by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, in close consultation with governments and initiatives from South East Europe.
15 July 2013 | News
Three Western Balkans heritage sites chosen for a €2.8 million EU funding, says RCC meeting
SARAJEVO/NOVI SAD – Three Western Balkans sites have been chosen for a €2.8 million worth EU-funded project to support preservation and restoration of cultural heritage in the region, the European Commission announced today at a meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society, held in Novi Sad, Serbia.
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.
13 November 2012 | News
Museums network in South East Europe established at RCC-organized ministerial conference in Skopje
SARAJEVO/SKOPJE – South East European Museums Network, which will enhance cross-border cooperation between these cultural institutions, was established at a ministerial conference held in Skopje today.
12 November 2012 | News
Preservation of cultural heritage in South East Europe in focus of Skopje meeting, held under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO/SKOPJE – Funds for rehabilitating South East European cultural heritage, including a 2.8 million euro worth project, will be presented at a meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society, which began in Skopje today.
03 October 2012 | News
Lifelong learning and non-formal adult education in South East Europe focus of RCC, dvv international conference in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The conference Lifelong Learning and Non-formal Adult Education in South East Europe will discuss ways to build knowledge-based society in the region by increasing participation in adult learning, in Sarajevo, tomorrow.
28 June 2012 | News
RCC Task Force on Culture and Society meeting agrees to reinforce protection of cultural heritage in South East Europe
The Third Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS) ended today in Prčanj, Montenegro, with an agreement to finalize the establishment of Ljubljana Process national task forces, necessary for implementing the project ‘Sustaining the Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans’.
25 May 2012 | News
RCC-supported conference discusses higher education in Western Balkans
A two-day international conference in support of higher education reform in Western Balkans ended in Petrovac, Montenegro, today. The event discussed the role of professional administrators and public-private partnerships in developing higher education systems in the region, as well as new institutionalised arrangements for regional cooperation.
22 February 2012 | News
RCC, European Parliament to bring together Western Balkan parliamentarians to discuss environmental policy, in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The European Union (EU) environmental policy and Western Balkans environmental trends and perspectives will be the topic of a two-day parliamentary seminar hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, on 23-24 February.
08 December 2011 | News
Head of LSE institute to speak about perceptions of crisis-struck Europe, sign agreement with RCC, in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The impact of the current euro-zone crisis on perceptions of ‘Europe’ will be the topic of a lecture by Professor Kevin Featherstone, Head of the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), to be held at the Sarajevo School of Economics and Business (EFSA), tomorrow.
24 November 2011 | News
Western Balkans’ research and development strategy project launched in Belgrade, with RCC support
BELGRADE/SARAJEVO – A two-year project to develop a strategy for regional dimension of Research and Innovation cooperation in the Western Balkans has been launched today, in Belgrade, Serbia.
06 October 2011 | News
First training of South East European education inspectors concludes in Montenegro today, supported by RCC
DANILOVGRAD/SARAJEVO – The first regional training of education inspectors ended today at the Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA) in Danilovgrad, Montenegro.
28 September 2011 | News
Directors general of South East European public media to sign cooperation protocol in Sarajevo, with RCC support
SARAJEVO – Directors general of 13 public service broadcasters from South East Europe, supported by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will sign a protocol on regional cooperation in Sarajevo on Friday, 30 September.
11 July 2011 | News
RCC organizes preparatory meeting for ministerial conference on Western Balkans strategy for research and development
Zagreb hosted a preparatory meeting today for the Ministerial Conference on Regional Strategy for Research and Development for Innovation for Western Balkans, to be held in November 2011. The event was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
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.
23 June 2011 | News
Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society constituted in Cetinje today
CETINJE/SARAJEVO – “The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society will promote cooperation in preserving the cultural heritage of South East Europe”, said Hido Biscevic, RCC Secretary General, at today’s constitutive meeting of the Task Force in Cetinje, Montenegro.
21 June 2011 | News
Regional Cooperation Council Task Force on Culture and Society to begin work in Cetinje
CETINJE/SARAJEVO – The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society will be opened on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, at the premises of the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, in Cetinje.
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.
16 March 2011 | News
Role of Western Balkan parliaments in EU accession to be debated in Sarajevo, under RCC and EC auspices
SARAJEVO – Role of national parliaments in Western Balkans and Turkey in negotiations for EU accession will be discussed at a meeting hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, on 17-18 March.
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).
24 February 2011 | News
Role of parliaments in legislative process and government oversight discussed in Sarajevo, under EP and RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – A two-day seminar on the role of parliaments in the legislative process and in the government oversight in Western Balkans will wrap up in Sarajevo today at the premises of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
28 January 2011 | News
Montenegrin Foreign Minister, RCC Secretary General sign protocol on hosting regional task force on culture and society
BECICI/SARAJEVO – A protocol on the host country arrangements for the Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society was signed this evening by Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Milan Rocen, and RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, in Becici, Montenegro.
19 October 2010 | News
Inspectors to seek ways of improving quality of education in South East Europe, with RCC and OSCE support
SARAJEVO – Role of inspectors in education quality assurance in South East Europe will be in focus of a two-day regional conference that will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
29 September 2010 | News
International conference on higher education reform concludes in Dubrovnik today
DUBROVNIK/SARAJEVO – A three-day international forum on higher education reform ended today in Dubrovnik, Croatia, agreeing to focus on a strategic development of Western Balkans’ education capacity over the next 10 years, in the context of the EU higher education area.
16 September 2010 | News
Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society established today
A Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society has been established today, by the decision of the Organization’s 28-member Board, which met in Sarajevo.
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.
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.
09 March 2010 | News
Public research institutes instrumental to upgrading Western Balkans competitiveness, concludes regional workshop
ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The role of public research institutes in technological development of the Western Balkan countries is instrumental to upgrading the competitiveness of the region, participants of a two-day South East European workshop agreed in Istanbul today.
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.
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.
29 October 2009 | News
Sarajevo conference on higher education in Western Balkans to open at Regional Cooperation Council tomorrow
SARAJEVO – A two-day conference on higher education ‘Building Capacity for Change in the Western Balkans’ will tomorrow open in Sarajevo at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. The event is organized by the RCC Secretariat, in cooperation with the Universities of Novi Sad, Sarajevo and Zagreb.
22 October 2009 | News
OECD, RCC bring together policy makers and experts in Sarajevo to increase parliamentary involvement in better business regulation in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – Policy makers and experts from South East Europe (SEE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gathered today at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo to streamline co-operation between parliaments and governments in order to develop a more attractive and competitive business environment in SEE.
08 October 2009 | News
RCC Secretariat hosts 1st Working Group Meeting of Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe
The 1st Working Group Meeting of the Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe (ERI SEE) concluded today at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo. The two-day event gathered representatives of education ministries from South East Europe.
30 September 2009 | News
RCC to support stronger women entrepreneurship in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – A regional project aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship in South East Europe (SEE), focusing on expansion and job creation of women-owned businesses, will be launched at a stakeholders meeting at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo tomorrow, 1 October.
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.
06 September 2009 | News
RCC to gather experts on regional research and development strategy for the Western Balkans, in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – An expert meeting on developing the Regional Strategy for Research and Development for the Western Balkans will be held on Monday, 7 September 2009, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo. The meeting is a follow-up to the Ministerial Conference organized in Sarajevo on 24 April 2009 by the RCC Secretariat and the Czech Republic.
24 April 2009 | News
Education, research and innovation key to Western Balkans development, region’s ministers agree in Sarajevo today
SARAJEVO – Western Balkans ministers agreed today in Sarajevo to launch preparations of a regional research strategy, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Czech Presidency of the European Union.
22 April 2009 | News
Ministerial conference launching regional research strategy to be held in Sarajevo on Friday
SARAJEVO – A ministerial conference to launch a regional research strategy for the Western Balkans will take place in Sarajevo, on Friday, 24 April. The event will be co-hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Czech Presidency of the European Union.
14 June 2008 | News
Task force on building human capital in South Eastern Europe launched
LJUBLJANA/SARAJEVO – A regional Task Force on Fostering and Building Human Capital in South Eastern Europe was launched in Ljubljana yesterday, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).