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21 Nov 2023
RCC Secretary General meets Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister in Chisinau news

Chisinau - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Majlinda Bregu was in a visit to Moldova today where she met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Nicu Popescu, to discuss the EU integration of the region and Moldova’s role in the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) and the RCC.  RCC Secretary General ...


16 Oct 2023
RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu speech at the Berlin Process Summit, on 16 October 2023 in Tirana speech

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu spoke at the Berlin Process Summit, which for the first time took place in the region, in Tirana on 16 Octber 2023. "The concerted efforts we put towards mutual recognition of a new set of professions, which now amount to 7 in total, fully based on EU rules – is another symbolic entry ticket to the single market as it can be a crucial step towards recognition ...


13 Oct 2023
Bregu: Role of Parliaments in the Berlin Process is to transform the pledges to reality news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the Parliamentary Conference on the role of parliaments in the Berlin Process Tirana - "The ultimate legal responsibility in the ratification process of most of regional agreements and commitments lies with the parliaments. This once again makes evident the need for stronger engagement of Parliaments in this process, not only to formally add to its democratic ...


21 Sep 2023
Bregu: When global institutions and frameworks are stretched thin, regional bodies can step in to provide stability, continuity, and direction news

New York - "The Western Balkans has made significant progress in the last two decades, but the Western Balkans is not where its inhabitants or outside peacemakers hoped we would be after twenty-plus years. Unfortunately, friction amongst economies persists, and conflicts can hinder investments and economic growth in the region. Having in mind this and the backdrop of these vast geopolitical ...


15 Mar 2023
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARIAT for the period 1 November 2022 – 1 March 2023 report

Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 November 2022 – 1 March 2023 was presented by the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at the 48th RCC Board meeting on 15 March 2023 in Sarajevo.


15 Mar 2023
Bregu: Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains the key in strengthening economic resilience of the Western Balkans news

Regional Cooperation Council Hosts 48th meeting of RCC Board  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 ...


19 Jul 2022
Statement by RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on Opening of accession negotiations with EU for Albania and North Macedonia, 19 July 2022 statement

Better late than never! Statement of Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on the occasion of Albania and North Macedonia opening accession negotiations with the EU.


10 Jun 2022
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2021-2022 report

The Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2021 – April 2022. It outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


09 Jun 2022
Bregu: As long as we continue to subscribe to dialogue, compromise and cooperation, we invest in long-term stability, security and prosperity news

Participants of RCC Annual Meeting endorse organisation’s Annual Report and Strategy and Work Programme 2023-2025 Thessaloniki – “Under the political guidance of SEECP and in consultations with all relevant actors and stakeholders, RCC identified those gaps in which the region should invest with technical as well as political capital. These all fall under the category of sustainable ...


08 Jun 2022
Champion of Regional Cooperation to round off 14th RCC Annual Meeting news

Sarajevo/Thessaloniki – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to hold its 14th Annual Meeting on Thursday, 9 June in Thessaloniki. RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu will present the RCC Annual Report and major accomplishments and results of the organisation in the past year while putting it in the context of current political and economic situation in the region.  Despite challenging ...


18 May 2022
Bregu: With slowed growth & inflation Western Balkans will have to amp-up regional cooperation news

RCC Board endorses organisation’s Strategy and Work Programme 2023-2025 and the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General 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 ...


16 Mar 2022
Bregu: European perspective important for socio-economic progress, but also for security and stability news

RCC Board met today for the 45th time since the establishment of the organisation 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 ...


02 Mar 2022
Euronews article featuring statement by RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu article

Euronews published an article dubbed "Could Ukraine kick-start the EU's stalled enlargement plan?" featuring statements by the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on the Western Balkans enlargement process in the light of the latest circumstances in Ukraine and Europe. Full article in English is at a link bellow. In addition, find excerpts of the article featuring statements by the RCC SG in ...


20 Feb 2022
Bregu: Western Balkans’ growth potential can be unlocked only through regional economic integration news

RCC Secretary General hosts a high-level event in Munich, co-organised with the Munich Security Conference  Munich – “European integration and transatlantic cooperation should not look decoupled in the Western Balkans (WB). It’s high time to put the process of EU accession of the WB into the spotlight before too late becomes a lifetime. This is the centre of gravity for ...


02 Dec 2021
European Union is Our Future, No Alternative, Interview by RCC Secretary General for Novi Magazin interview

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu spoke to Serbian Novi Magazin about Western Balkans EU integration, Common Regional Market and Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, region's response to Covid-19 pandemic and much more. "Weak Western Balkans makes the EU weak too. But a lot is being said each day by both the EU and Western Balkans leaders. The truth is that the ...


15 Nov 2021
Bregu: The antidote to slowing down EU enlargement process is more ambitious integration of Western Balkans in the EU single market policies news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the informal meeting of SEECP foreign ministers in Brussels  Brussels/Sarajevo: “European perspective of the Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial to all in the long-term. I believe EU has all the leverage needed to keep the EU perspective in WB alive. Without a credible path to EU membership, the WB could ...


15 Oct 2021
Bregu: European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial news

RCC Board meets for the 44th time  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. ...


10 Jul 2021
Bregu: Kinship, solidarity and political pragmatism give sense to regional cooperation, benefits of which have been proven time and time again news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the Dubrovnik Forum Dubrovnik/Sarajevo – “It is not bureaucracy and business as usual agenda that gives a sense to regional cooperation. It’s kinship, solidarity and political pragmatism. That’s what we are trying to do. To give a face to valued cooperation in a process where people are participating. Benefits of cooperation have been ...


02 Jul 2021
Talking Points by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu at 2021 Prespa Forum Dialogue speech

Talking Points by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu at the High-Level Plenary Session “Resetting the EU-US Synergy towards the Western Balkans” within the 2021 Prespa Forum Dialogue, in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on 2 July 2021. Secretary General Bregu was accompanied by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Turkish Minister of Foreign affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, ...


22 Jun 2021
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public and Business Viewpoints on Situation in our Region news

Western Balkan citizens’ support for regional cooperation and EU integration is growing; employment still causes the biggest concern  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 ...


16 Jun 2021
Bregu: 2020 was difficult, but a real progress and achievements have been made for development of our region news

Participants of the RCC Annual Meeting endorse SEE2030 Strategy and RCC Annual Report  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. ...


19 May 2021
Bregu: Regional cooperation with clear, targeted goals and meeting deliverables is more urgent than ever news

RCC Board meeting held for the 43rd time since the establishment of the organisation 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 ...


14 Apr 2021
Bregu, Grlic-Radman discuss South East Europe Strategy 2030 and Green Lanes between EU and WB news

Regional Cooperation Council hosts Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in its Sarajevo headquarters today   Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, welcomed the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić-Radman, at the organisation’s headquarters in Sarajevo today.  Secretary ...


19 Mar 2021
Article by Gazeta Si, featuring RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu and results and successes of the Regional Cooperation Council article

Albanian web portal Gazeta Si published an article dubbed "The unspoken of Majlinda Bregu/the International Mission", featuring RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu and results and successes of the Regional Cooperation Council.


11 Mar 2021
Bregu: 77% of Western Balkans citizens agree that the relations in the region are better than a year ago news

RCC Board met today for the 42nd time since the establishment of the organisation 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 ...


07 Dec 2020
Bregu: ‘Regional cooperation’ and ‘regional integration’ are the two sides of the same coin news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the Friends of Europe’s EU-Western Balkans Summit: Creative solutions, sustainable cooperation and smart development Brussels/Sarajevo - "‘Regional cooperation’ and ‘regional integration’ are the two sides of the same coin. Integrating markets might be more of a process of EU integration. But regional cooperation is more than ...


28 Aug 2020
What would we expect from a more geopolitical EU? news

Bregu: What would we expect from a more geopolitical EU? Simple: Clear and bold decisions to acknowledge the good of having WB in EU as well as the damage associated with long prolong EU membership   Regional Cooperation Council takes part at 2020 GLOBSEC’s “Let’s Heal the World Together” Online Forum Bratislava/Tirana/Sarajevo – “What would we expect from a more geopolitical ...


25 Jun 2020
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2019-2020 report

This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2019 – April 2020. It outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


25 Jun 2020
Bregu: It is up to the region to retain commitment to cooperation and bring forth tangible progress to citizens news

RCC Secretary General takes part in SEECP Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting and hosts, with SEECP CiO, 12th RCC Annual meeting 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 ...


14 May 2020
Bregu: Pandemic created a common awareness that at least for now humankind takes precedence over politics and disputes news

RCC Board met online to hear about the activities of the organization in the past period and discuss future steps 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 ...


06 May 2020
Bregu: No brilliant regional plan can succeed without strong political leadership and fully synchronized EU- WB trajectories news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu officially announces RCC working to develop REA2 at the EU-Western Balkans Zagreb Summit 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 ...


29 Apr 2020
Tanja Miscevic, RCC's Deputy Secretary General for the European Western Balkans (EWB) interview

Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) spoke to European Western Balkans (EWB) about the priorities of regional cooperation at the time of the pandemic, economic recovery plans and cooperation between RCC and the governments of the region, as well as the support the EU has provided for the Western Balkans.


26 Apr 2020
Majlinda Bregu, RCC SG's interview for N1 about the Western Balkans during & after COVID-19 pandemic interview

Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) talks to N1 TV in an online interview about life in the Western Balkans during the corona virus pandemic, its effects on the tourism sector, Green Corridors and the EU integration of the region


24 Mar 2020
Statement by RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on EU Member States’ decision to open negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia news

“Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity” Robert Schuman    Tirana/Sarajevo – “Good news for us today as the EU Member States reached a long overdue political agreement to open the accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia, confirming that the ...


23 Mar 2020
On its way - Green Corridor enabling easy supply of goods within the Western Balkans and between the region and the European Union news

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 flow of medicines, ...


18 Mar 2020
Bregu: Cooperation is crucial in having effective response to fight the pandemic news

Region unites over need to establish green corridor within the region and with the EU RCC hosts video-conference consultations with representatives of six Western Balkan Governments, EU and other regional stakeholders on joint actions to mitigate consequences of pandemic caused by Covid-19 Sarajevo – “These are days of rapid developments by a minute, both at the level of EU and our region ...


10 Feb 2020
Bregu: Regional cooperation is all about joint solutions to common challenges news

RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu meets Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Ankara – “RCC appreciates the longstanding commitment and dedication of Turkey to regional cooperation that will continue this summer as it is taking over Chairmanship-in-Office of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP C-i-O) from Kosovo*. During this Chairmanship, the RCC will present the ...


10 Feb 2020
Kapetanovic: The art of diplomacy is finding functional solutions for real-life issues news

4th Training for Young Diplomats from SEE organized by RCC in Pristina   Pristina – “There are achievements, success stories, but there are also bilateral disputes in our region as well as a lot of mistrust and suspicion. Bilateralism sometimes threatens to diminish regionalism. But what is the art of diplomacy if not finding a way to work around disputes to find a functional solution to ...


31 Jan 2020
Bregu: We are committed to enable the region to be an exporter of security news

RCC at high-level meeting on the implementation of the Roadmap for comprehensive SALW in the Western Balkans Berlin – “Nearly half of all respondents of the RCC’s Balkan Barometer are unhappy with the security situation in their economy - with estimates that five out of the six surveyed economies, Albania excluded, make the world’s top 20 list for civilian gun ownership. However we are ...


31 Jan 2020
Bregu: This is much needed opportunity to work together on transformation of our countries into the future EU member states news

France re-joins Regional Cooperation Council Berlin – The Republic of France has decide to re-join the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), announced French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, at the high-level meeting of the Franco-German Coordination Initiative on Small Arms and Light Weapons Control in the Western Balkans, taking place in Berlin today. “This ...


30 Jan 2020
RCC Secretary General Bregu meets Commissioners Varhelyi and Gabriel in Brussels: RCC remains reliable EU partner in the region news

Brussels – “2020 is a critical year for the region and mutual relations between the EU and the Western Balkans but also for unhindered economic growth. RCC remains a reliable partner of the EU in the region but also a reliable partner of the region in the EU. We all have high hopes and expectations of new, positive developments during the Croatian Presidency of the EU and the upcoming Summit in ...


17 Jan 2020
Bregu: Parliamentary dialogue and cooperation remain a steady beacon in the ongoing struggle for democracy news

Tirana – “In times when politics is in critical condition, Parliamentary dialogue between the Western Balkans and EU on the future of the region is much needed.  Therefore I would propose to start an institutionalised dialogue In this regard, and the regional Cooperation Council (RCC) stands ready to facilitate it” said RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at the opening of the Conference ...


09 Jan 2020
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu for “Vijesti” interview

INTERVIEW: Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu for “Vijesti”


09 Jan 2020
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu in the EU Scream podacst on the EU perspective of the Western Balkans interview

Secretary General of the regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu in the EU Scream podacst on the EU perspective of the Western Balkans https://euscream.com/macrons-ugly-side/ Audio: EN


27 Dec 2019
Bregu: I am gratified that during the leaving year regional cooperation delivered, even under stress news

Statement of the RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu wrapping up organisation’s 2019 activities and announcing the future plans Sarajevo  - At the end of 2019, it is time to wrap up the year, summing up activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and announcing our future plans: Here is the statement of our Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu on this occasion:  “I’ve ...


25 Dec 2019
RCC fully committed to regional cooperation news

Regional Cooperation Council invited to “Mini-Schengen” meetings, together with EU, USA, WB, EBRD & EIB, to hear the proposals of WB leaders 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” ...


21 Dec 2019
Bregu: Pleased to see that Western Balkans regional initiative focuses on people and clearly outlines EU integration as its final goal news

Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General attends meeting of Western Balkan Leaders in Tirana Tirana – “We at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) are pleased to see that this regional initiative places primary focus on people, particularly that it clearly outlines our ultimate destination – the European Union (EU). We also welcome ambitious list for the next meeting already in January ...


20 Dec 2019
Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the RCC: We might not be as competitive as Germany, but we need to counter our fears and ensure mobility of students in the Western Balkans article

Article by Majlinda Bregu, the RCC Secretary General for Political Trends and Dynamics in Southeast Europe publication of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) about youth in the region and organisation's activities to support full utilisation of this human potential Youth accounts for over 21% of population in the Western Balkans (WB), or more than 3.5 million in a region of some 18 million people all ...


11 Dec 2019
EU boosts support for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans news

Regional cooperation is an essential element of the European perspective for the Western Balkans. EU commitment to regional cooperation was further reinforced by the signature of a EUR 12.5 million contract with the Regional Cooperation Council  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 ...


06 Dec 2019
Secretary General Bregu: Delay in the EU enlargement generates "disappointment climate" in the Western Balkans interview

RCC Secretary General for Austria Presse Agentur (APA): The delay in the EU enlargement has created a "disappointment climate" in the Western Balkans. "People are the ones who really support the EU accession process," says Secretary General. "They believe that if the EU standards apply to their country, they will feel safer, have equal opportunities to find a job, and be treated fairly in court of ...


05 Dec 2019
RCC: We need dynamic regional responses to modern security challenges news

RCC hosts conference: Regional Response to Security Challenges in South East Europe taking place in Trieste today Trieste – “83% of Europeans agree that fake news is a threat to democracy, yet it has become a new normalcy, sitting between a freedom of speech and freedom to hate. Fake news is vastly contributing to hate speech which adds fuel to the fire of nationalism and violent extremism, ...


03 Dec 2019
Bregu: It’s time to come with a clear stand on the accession process of the Western Balkans news

RCC Secretary General took part in the Friends of Europe’s Conference on the future of the Balkans Brussels – “Time to end pretence!  EU should honour its Treaty and come with a clear stand on the accession process of the Western Balkans. Thanks to the new EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for clearly articulating the vision of Europe as a continent. We hope this will be the ...


21 Nov 2019
Bregu: Demographic trends in the Western Balkans and the EU are the best illustration of the real aspirations and needs of the citizens news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu took part in the high-level panel debate on the Western Balkans-EU relationship  Zagreb – “Both Europe and Western Balkans are changing demographically, frequently as a model of ‘sending’ and ‘receiving’ countries, as most of around 230,000 citizens have legally migrated from the region to the EU in 2018 alone, while more than 5 million (or ...


19 Nov 2019
Bregu: The region vests high hopes in the upcoming Croatian Presidency of the EU Council in 2020 news

Secretary General of the RCC, Majlinda Bregu met with Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković in Zagreb  Zagreb – “Priorities of the Croatian 6-month Presidency of the European Union (EU) Council beginning in January 2020 stressing the usage of full potential of infrastructure and human resources, connectivity and networking of the economies, mesh well with the regional cooperation ...


12 Nov 2019
Bregu: For us at RCC, the Regional Cooperation is a Developing Story news

Statement by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperating Council, Majlinda Bregu on Ohrid initiative  Sarajevo – “We have been asked and received a lot of questions on Novi Sad and Ohrid meetings, the so called “mini-Schengen” and our role in this. Let me be clear. The RCC is fully committed to the regional cooperation.  This is our mission and we were invited to Ohrid ...


10 Nov 2019
Bregu: RCC supports all initiatives contributing towards EU ‘single market’-like agenda for Western Balkans news

Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council takes part in the meeting of Western Balkan leaders in Ohrid Ohrid – “The Regional Cooperation Council supports all initiatives that contribute towards an EU ‘single market’-like agenda for our region, based on the four freedoms. The initiatives should fully mirror the EU models and in such a way represent a stepping ...


30 Oct 2019
Bregu: While waiting for EU plans for the region, we should focus on connectivity through regional cooperation and serious domestic reforms news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council was a Keynote Speaker as 5th edition of Tirana Connectivity Forum 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 ...


22 Oct 2019
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARIAT report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 1 May – 30 September 2019.


18 Oct 2019
Bregu: Air pollution biggest environmental threat to health in WB – EU should consider this as ‘Fundamentals First’- air pollution knows no borders news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at Belgrade Security forum: Disappointing news from the European Council today Belgrade – „Six cities in the Western Balkans (WB) are among the top 20 cities with the highest air pollution in the world, and air pollution is the single biggest environmental threat to human health. Cancer and tumor, the most serious health concerns in the region, ...


17 Oct 2019
Bregu: Western Balkans citizens need incentive from the EU news

RCC Board met in Sarajevo today, for the last time in 2019, to hear an update on the activities in period since the last meeting and provide guidance and approval on the future plans  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 ...


07 Oct 2019
Bregu: Whenever there is a political will, things in the region move forward news

RCC Secretary General in Salzburg: participating in the Salzburg Europe Summit and visiting University of Salzburg as guest lecturer  Salzburg – “Keeping the regional cooperation alive is a task that is easier said than done. For example, we had a very good, successful, story in the digital component of the Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans – Regional Roaming Agreement, which ...


04 Oct 2019
Bregu: There Is No Other Way to Build the Common European Future of the Region than the consolidation of Rule of Law - It’s All about Justice news

  RCC and Albanian Ministry of justice, organised High Level Regional Conference “It’s all about Justice” gathering WB6 ministers, representatives of judicial institutions, civil society, and media in Tirana today  WATCH VIDEO STATEMENT BY RCC SECRETARY GENERAL Tirana – “Albania and Northern Macedonia are eagerly awaiting mid-October's decision on opening of the EU negotiations, ...


24 Sep 2019
Bregu: It’s the right moment for Western Balkans to show its strengths and ownership on region’s EU future news

RCC hosts informal meeting for the Western Balkans Minister of Foreign Affairs o the side-lines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly New York/Sarajevo – “It’s beyond Poznan time, which makes it the right moment for the Western Balkans to show its strengths and ownership on the EU future of the region. We should address shortcomings of the Regional Economic Area and adjust it to fit ...


03 Sep 2019
European Union will always be an unfinished business without the Western Balkans news

Bled – „European Union will always be an unfinished business without the Western Balkans. The price for stagnation and postponing further the decision on the opening of accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia is, in short, a risk. The non opening would bread instability, immigration, unconstructive influence of other geopolitical actors. Any positive moment can precipitate easily, ...


02 Sep 2019
"A clean, well-lighted place", article by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General, for Bled Strategic Times article

Article by Majlinda Bregu, the RCC Secretary General, on European integration prospects of the Western Balkans in the 30 August 2019 issue of the Bled Strategic Times magazine. “European Integration of the Western Balkans is not a territorial agenda. It is a Transformational agenda. No one expects any shortage of sensitivities or emotional structures on display. But if we continue keeping the ...


09 Jul 2019
SEECP leaders praise RCC, entrust it to pursue connectivity agenda of the region and prepare region’s strategy beyond 2020 news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu addressed South East European leaders at the SEECP Summit today Sarajevo – “By thanking Bosnia and Herzegovina for excellent cooperation in the past year of their Chairmanship-in-Office (C-i-O) of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), their contribution in leading and advancing regional cooperation through the SEECP framework, I would like ...


08 Jul 2019
Annual Report on of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 2018-2019 report

This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2018 – May 2019. It outlines the main RCC activities and achievements during the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period. During the reporting period, ...


08 Jul 2019
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 news

11th Annual Meeting of the RCC took place in Sarajevo today  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 ...


05 Jul 2019
Bregu: Western Balkan should embark on serious, wide-ranging facilitation agenda, including movement of people, goods, services and capital news

RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu addressed the Western Balkans and the EU leaders at the Summit in Poznan, Poland 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, ...


02 Jul 2019
Regional cooperation is becoming a steady pattern to EU’s magnetic attraction interview

The article of the RCC's Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu tackles anticipations of the Berlin Process's Western Balkans Summit in Poznan, Poland, staring on 4 July 2019. Summing the expectations up, Secretary General Bregu writes: On 1st of July, Roaming Reductions arrived. On 4th of July, the Western Balkans summit in Poznan will start. EU is a magnetic attraction, while regional cooperation is ...


13 Jun 2019
Bregu: Progress achieved by Western Balkans’ EU aspirants now calls for the European Union’s concrete and fast action news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the Annual General Meeting of the German Eastern Business Association in Berlin Berlin – “It is not just about enlargement any longer but rather about unification of Europe because the European Union (EU) without Western Balkans (WB) is incomplete. This region is Union's geostrategic interest zone. On the other hand, coming from the region, I would like to ...


12 Jun 2019
Interview: Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the RCC to A2 CNN channel interview

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu spoke with Endri Xhafo, journalist of Tirana-based A2 CNN, “I Ftuari” show, on visa liberalisation but also on the overall situation in the region, regional cooperation, results achieved and steps to follow in the upcoming period.


08 Jun 2019
Bregu: Integration into Regional Economic Area is a win-win for everyone news

RCC Secretary General meets Slovakian Foreign Minister  Bratislava – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Miroslav Lajcak, in Bratislava today. The two officials discussed the upcoming Western Balkans’ Berlin Process Summit in Poznan in July, in particular the deliverables when it comes to ...


07 Jun 2019
Bregu: EU will never be complete without Western Balkans - let’s move from “geopoetics” to geopolitics news

Regional Cooperation Council at 14th GLOBSEC Forum in Bratislava  Bratislava – “The EU without the Western Balkans will never be complete. But it cannot assume that business as usual will provide stability in the Western Balkans. It should take a much more political and strategic approach in the region. Let’s move from “geopoetics” to geopolitics. The EU must be ready to realistically ...


27 May 2019
Bregu: Investing in human capital paves the way towards economic development of the region news

RCC Secretary General at the Istanbul Development Dialogues 2019 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 ...


22 May 2019
Kapetanovic: Dislocation of youth from socio-economic trends makes them vulnerable to radicalization news

RCC holds community dialogue with young people    Pristina – “The youth are extremely exposed group to various forms of emerging challenges in our region, as more than 20% of them between 16 and 25 years of age have no job, are not involved in training education, and 1 out of 2 want to leave their homeland not believing in betterment of their society”, said Amer Kapetanovic, Head ...


16 May 2019
RCC Board meets: RCC stands ready to firmly push the integrative agenda and the European narrative forward news

 37th meeting of the RCC Board Sarajevo – “It is stock-taking time, to see what the RCC has been doing, both the accomplishments and the effects of the regional cooperation process on the people in the region, with many of the most pressing issues in the Western Balkans embedded in our work”, said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu opening the ...


30 Apr 2019
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 15 October 2018 – 1 March 2019.


18 Apr 2019
Majlinda Bregu, the RCC Secretary General to Milica Magazine interview

In the interview to women's online Milica magazine, RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu talks about the region of South East Europe, successes and challenges of regional cooperation but also about the position of women in the region and being a woman in politics.


22 Mar 2019
Bregu: Western Balkans should be EU’s geopolitical priority, but WB must outdo itself to become quality EU integration partner news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the COWEB meeting in Sarajevo today  Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu took part in the informal meeting of the Working Party on the Western Balkans Region (COWEB) in Sarajevo today, convened by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), in cooperation with the South East ...


21 Mar 2019
RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu in RTSH1 Përballë programme interview

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu was a guest in Përballë programme of the Albanian Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH1), hosted by Lutfi Dervishi. The topics involved expected accomplishments of regional cooperation in 2019 and how they would affect ordinary citizens in the region.


15 Mar 2019
Bregu: Challenges in front of us in enhancing regional cooperation in time of uncertainty, will be even bigger news

RCC Board meets for the 36th time with the new RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu, chairing the meeting for the first time  Sarajevo – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu, for the first time since the inception of the duty, chaired the meeting of the organisation’s Board at the RCC Secretariat offices in Sarajevo, yesterday.  The Secretary General ...


14 Mar 2019
Bregu: Politics should act to the citizens’ concerns and deliver fast news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu meets Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency Milorad Dodik  Sarajevo – Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) paid an official visit to Milorad Dodik, Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency, in Sarajevo today.  Bregu and Dodik discussed the regional cooperation, especially in light of the ...


12 Mar 2019
Bregu, Zvizdic discuss Western Balkans’ progress towards regional economic area news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu meets Chairman of Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdić Sarajevo – Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) paid an official visit to Denis Zvizdić, Chairman of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers, in Sarajevo today.  Bregu and Zvizdić discussed the latest developments in implementation ...


28 Feb 2019
Turdiu: Young diplomats are the leaders of tomorrow and promoters of our region to the EU and the world news

RCC organizes training for junior diplomats from South East Europe Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized training for the region’s young diplomats from South East Europe, in Sarajevo today.  Eminent speakers from diplomatic core and business sector involved young diplomats from the region ...


22 Feb 2019
RCC Bregu: We will keep pushing the region for concrete deliverables by Poznan summit news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu visits Montenegro and meets its top officials  Podgorica – On the second day of her visit to Montenegro, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu met with the Speaker of the Parliament, Ivan Brajović, Prime Minister, Duško Marković,  Minister of Foreign Affairs  Srđan Darmanović,  and Minister of ...


21 Feb 2019
RCC Bregu: Western Balkans is on the move, to step up reforms and strengthen regional cooperation news

Podgorica - Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) started her consultations in Podgorica today by meeting Milo Đukanović, President of Montenegro.   Bregu and Đukanović discussed the current status of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans (WB), focusing on outstanding commitments of the participating economies in connectivity, digitalisation, ...


15 Feb 2019
Bregu: Investment in the European future of the Western Balkans is a win-win choice interview

BiH online magazine BUKA, published an interview with the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu talking about the economic situation in the region, brain-drain, corruption, unresolved issues, but also about opportunities and necessity of regional cooperation and common European future.


05 Feb 2019
Bregu: Practical and effective discussion on the need for credible regional cooperation news

Belgrade - Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu met with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dačić, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Rasim Ljajić, and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Veroljub Arsić. The new Regional Roaming Agreement ...


04 Feb 2019
Bregu: Mutual interests to lead the way on the Western Balkans’ European path news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu starts her official visit to Belgrade  Belgrade – At the beginning of the two-day official visit to Belgrade, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu met with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, today.  Secretary General Bregu and President Vučić had a frank and constructive discussion on the ...


03 Feb 2019
Bregu: 2019 is “a year of delivery” - citizens of the Western Balkans expect more news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu in an official visit to Tirana  Tirana – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, was in an official visit to Tirana where she met with the President of Albania, Illir Meta, Minister of Finance and Economy, Anila Denaj, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Besa Shahini, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, ...


31 Jan 2019
Domestic reforms and regional cooperation - the two preconditions for economic development of the region news

Brussels – Sustainable economic growth and development of the Western Balkans (WB) was in the focus of gathering of representatives of EU institutions, diplomatic missions, think tanks, non-governmental and business organizations, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s (FES) EU Office, at the RCC Liaison Office in Brussels yesterday.  RCC ...


29 Jan 2019
RCC SG Bregu: European integration of Western Balkans is not a territorial, but transformational agenda news

Europe is a state of mind and empowered Western Balkans shall speak the language of unity among citizens  Vienna – “European integration of Western Balkans is not a territorial agenda. It is a transformational agenda, which in the broader orientation towards fundamental European values has worked. The EU has been the single most important leverage in the region to promote democracy, rule ...


22 Jan 2019
RCC’s Majlinda Bregu: Skopje gives a tailwind for the entire region news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu in an official visit to Skopje   Skopje – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, was in an official visit to Skopje in the past two days where she met with the President of the Assembly, Talat Dzaferi; Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs, Bujar Osmani; Deputy ...


18 Jan 2019
Secretary General Bregu: Inter-connected, we will push each other forward news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu pays visit to Pristina, meets top officials  Pristina – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, visited Pristina today and met with the Speaker of the Parliament Kadri Veseli, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, and Minister of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Besim Beqaj.  Regional ...


09 Jan 2019
RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu pays the first official visit to Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina news

Sarajevo – Majlinda Bregu, the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met with Sefik Dzaferovic, one of the three members of Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo today. This is the first meeting organised of envisaged tour of visits that RCC Secretary General will have with leadership of the South East Europe participants.  Secretary General Bregu thanked ...


04 Jan 2019
Statement of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu news

Beyond differences and geographical boundaries there lies a common interest!  Jean Monnet was firm in his conviction that the “European nations had to unite in order to survive”. The same holds true for Western Balkan’s. To maintain weight in a world that is changing fast, we need to leverage our relations. Cooperation is the crux of the matter.    I am honoured to assume ...


04 Jan 2019
Majlinda Bregu takes office as the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council news

Sarajevo – Mrs. Majlinda Bregu assumed her duties of the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) today, following the appointment by the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Foreign Ministers in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia on 23 April 2018. Bregu is an experienced Albanian politician and a strong believer in the European Union project.  Full biography ...


04 Dec 2018
Enlargement process, integration, transformation challenges - main topics of 19th edition of EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels news

Brussels – For the third year in a row the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) partnered with the Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe (FoE), with the support of the European Commission, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States European Command, in organizing the annual EU-Western Balkans Summit. This year’s 19th edition of the forum, under ...


18 Oct 2018
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 15 March – 15 October 2018.


18 Oct 2018
RCC Board meets for the 35th time news

Svilanovic: Regional cooperation leads to irreversible progress in EU and Euro-Atlantic integration and socio-economic recovery  Sarajevo – The Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) met for the 35th time at the organisations’ Secretariat in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina today.  Before moving to the formal meeting agenda the outgoing RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic ...


18 Sep 2018
Sarajevo: Students from BiH universities discuss early signs of radicalisation among youth and its prevention news

Sarajevo – Close to 50 students from various Universities across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in BiH capital today at the one-day Workshop, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) at Faculty for Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies of University of Sarajevo,  to discuss the early signs of radicalisation in their local communities, vulnerable targeted population, prevailing ...


11 Jul 2018
RCC Secretary General takes part at the Western Balkans London Summit news

The Secretary General of the regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, took part at the Western Balkans (WB) Summit on 10 July in London. Svilanovic spoke to the EU and Western Balkan leaders about the need to do more on implementation of the RCC-prepared Multiannual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA). He stressed the importance to empower communication between Western ...


12 Jun 2018
Statement by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic on the agreement announced by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev news

  I would like to congratulate Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev on their dedication and true leadership for reaching the agreement. The agreement represents an encouragement for the entire region of South East Europe, and Western Balkans in particular, showing that the most difficult issues can be resolved if there is determination and vision of the better future.     This ...


12 Jun 2018
RCC Secretary General and BiH Foreign Minister meet to discuss BiH's SEECP C-i-O news

Banja Luka – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, met the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak, in Banja Luka today.  The two officials discussed cooperation in the region, especially in light of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Chairmanship in Office (C-i-O) of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP), taken over from ...


17 May 2018
RCC at the Sofia Western Balkans Summit: Regional Cooperation Council proliferated regional cooperation across all sectors news

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 representatives ...


25 Apr 2018
Brussels: Bulgarian EU Presidency, RCC host conference on the Western Balkans’ European perspective news

Brussels - Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union together with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted a conference on the Western Balkans’ European perspective through growth, good governance and enhanced cooperation, in Brussels today. The Conference featured two panel discussions, the first one 'European perspective of the Western Balkans – state of play and potential ...


24 Apr 2018
SEECP Summit Participants praise work of RCC, thank outgoing and approve new Secretary General news

Brdo pri Kranju – The leaders of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) participants commended and congratulated the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), for serving as a sui generis organisation promoting regional cooperation in South East Europe, approving at the same time the appointment by the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Majlinda Bregu as Secretary General of the RCC, starting ...


23 Apr 2018
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2017-2018 report

This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period 1 April 2017 – 15 March 2018. It outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


23 Apr 2018
South East European Foreign Ministers Appoint next RCC Secretary General news

Brdo pri Kranju - Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) appointed Majlinda Bregu as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), starting on 1 January 2019 and of Igor Luksic as RCC Secretary General starting on January 2022, at their meeting held in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, today. In this post, Bregu will succeed Goran Svilanovic, who ...


23 Apr 2018
RCC Annual Meeting endorses nomination of Majlinda Bregu as the next RCC Secretary General for the term 2019-2021 news

Brdo pri Kranju – The 10th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), held in Brdo pri Kranju today, endorsed the RCC Annual Report 2017/2018 and the nominations of Majlinda Bregu as the next RCC Secretary General for the term 2019-2021 and Igor Luksic for the term 2022-2024. The meeting, co-chaired by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic and Matej Marn, on behalf of the ...


17 Apr 2018
RCC, RAI sign memorandum of understanding, broadening cooperation between the two organisations news

Belgrade – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Goran Svilanovic and Chairperson of the Regional Anticorruption Initiative (RAI) Davor Dubravica signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on mutual cooperation between the RCC and RAI, on the margins of the RCC-organised Conference 'Countering online radicalization in the context of cyber security', in Belgrade on 17 April ...


20 Mar 2018
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 September - 31 December 2017 report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 1 September – 31 December 2017 .


16 Mar 2018
Svilanovic at the meeting of WB Foreign Ministers in Sarajevo: It is “action time” for the Western Balkans news

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 of deliverables ...


15 Mar 2018
RCC Board meets for the 34th time news

RCC Secretary General Reports: Regional economic integration marked the last quarter of 2017 and continues to be the core of RCC's activities    Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic presented the Report on the organisation's activities in the last quarter of the past year at the first meeting of the Board of in 2018, held in Sarajevo ...


15 Mar 2018
RCC celebrates its 10th Birthday, awards EXIT as Champion of Regional Cooperation for 2017 news

Svilanovic: RCC today is a power-tool for regional cooperation and growth of South East Europe Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) marked its 10th birthday by presenting a brief overview of the past 10 years of the organisation’s activities to its partners, stakeholders and friends and awarding the EXIT Festival as Champion of Regional Cooperation  for 2017, ...


27 Feb 2018
10 years of Regional Cooperation Council news

With the region, for the region Sarajevo - Today the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) marks its 10 birthday. Our journey began on 27 February 2008 in Sofia at the meeting of Foreign Ministers of South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), when the RCC was officially launched, as the SEECP operational arm, under which auspices it continues to operate.    RCC is an all-inclusive ...


06 Feb 2018
New EU Strategy for the Western Balkans sets out credible enlargement perspective maintaining the focus on regional cooperation news

Sarajevo – The newly published EU Strategy for the Western Balkans (WB) reiterates regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations as keys for progress of the Western Balkans’ economies on their European path, naming the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) among those that provided a new momentum for dialogue.  “I am very pleased as it is encouraging to see that the efforts led by ...


18 Dec 2017
RCC Secretary General takes part the Berlin Process’s meeting of Western Balkans Sherpas news

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 (EC), 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 and the ...


05 Dec 2017
Challenges and Responses of the Western Balkans discussed at the Policy Summit in Brussels news

Svilanovic: The region has the action plan and has to remain committed to its implementation Brussels – The 18th edition of policy summit on the Western Balkans under the title: Western Balkans at a Crossroads: New Challenges, Changing Dynamics, organised by the leading Brussels-based think-tank Friends of Europe (FoE), with the support of the European Commission, Regional Cooperation Council ...


30 Oct 2017
London: Western Balkans Summit 2018 and Berlin Process in focus of Svilanovic’s meeting with UK Foreign Office and Commonwealth Officials news

London – Goran Svilanovic, Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General met with UK’s Foreign Office and Commonwealth officials Fiona McIlwham, Peter Bainbridge, Director and Deputy Director of Western Balkans Department (EuD - WBD),  Andrew Page, Western Balkans Summit 2018 Coordinator and Andrew Staunton, Member of the core team for organisation of the Summit to discuss the ...


26 Oct 2017
RCC Secretary General discusses Western Balkans EU perspective with Bulgarian Foreign Minister in Sofia today news

Sofia – Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met with Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Sofia today. Svilanovic and Zaharieva talked about the priorities of Bulgaria’s upcoming six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, starting on 1 January 2018.  Zaharieva ...


18 Oct 2017
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARIAT FOR THE PERIOD 1 April – 31 August 2017 report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 1 April – 31 August 2017 .


18 Oct 2017
Svilanovic at RCC Board meeting: Our efforts were focused on areas where ambitions in the region have grown news

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic presented the report on activities of the RCC Secretariat in the period 1 April – 31 August 2017 to the RCC Board at the meeting in Sarajevo today. The Board also heard the information and plans on the most important upcoming activities of the organisation, in particular those related to the implementation of ...


16 Oct 2017
Regional Cooperation Council at 6th Summit100 of Business Leaders of Southeast Europe news

Strengthening Business ties in the region by focusing on Connectivity as part of Multi-annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area in Western Balkans Six (MAP)  Skopje – The 6th Business leaders’ Summit100, focusing on connectivity, discussing transport, free trade, infrastructure, branding and promotion of the region, mobility of people, as well as energy and digital agendas, kicked ...


20 Sep 2017
New York: RCC Secretary General hosts meeting of Western Balkans foreign ministers and EU’s Han, discussing Regional Economic Area news

New York – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Goran Svilanovic hosted an informal meeting of the Western Balkans foreign ministers, with the participation of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Johannes Hahn, organized on the margins of the 72nd Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, in New York today. As this ...


12 Jul 2017
Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans Six meeting document

The leaders of Western Balkans Six (WB6) endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP), prepared by the RCC, at the Berlin Process summit on 12 July 2017, in Trieste, Italy . The RCC has been tasked to monitor and inform on the progress achieved in MAP implementation.


12 Jul 2017
Trieste: Six Western Balkans leaders endorse Regional Economic Area news

RCC tasked to monitor and inform on the progress achieved in its implementation 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 ...


05 Jul 2017
RCC: Svilanovic meets Bildt, Heisbourg, and Cooper in Sarajevo to discuss regional cooperation in context of European integration news

Sarajevo - Carl Bildt, former Swedish Prime Minister and Co-Chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), François Heisbourg, Chair of the International Institute for Strategic Studies Council and Chairman of the foundation council of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, and Robert Cooper, Special Advisor at the European Commission, visited the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat ...


30 Jun 2017
SEECP Foreign Ministers and Heads of State and Government endorse RCC’s Annual Report 2016-2017 news

Dubrovnik - Annual Report of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 2016/2017 was endorsed by the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Ministers of Foreign Affairs and consecutively by the Heads of State and Government at the meetings held in Dubrovnik today.   While presenting the organisation’s Annual Report, Goran Svilanovic, the RCC Secretary General expressed satisfaction ...


29 Jun 2017
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2016-2017 report

The Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017. It outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


26 Jun 2017
RCC to present report on its activities in the past year and the SEE 2020 Development Strategy’s implementation results, at meetings in Dubrovnik news

South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy Governing Board Meeting At its 4th annual meeting the Governing Board of the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy will hear the Annual Report on Strategy’s implementation (ARI) as the conclusion of this year’s SEE 2020 Governing Cycle. The main task of the SEE 2020 Governing Board is to analyse the progress achieved in the previous year by adopting the SEE 2020 ...


12 Jun 2017
Training of junior diplomats from South East Europe: crafting the future of the region news

Zagreb – Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) together with the host, Tomislav Lendic, Croatian Assistant Minister of Foreign and European Affairs (MFEA) in charge of Southeast Europe opened the 1st South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Seminar for Junior Diplomats taking place in Zagreb from 11 – 15 June 2107.    Stressing the ...


16 May 2017
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat for the period 1 January – 31 March 2017 report

The Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is submitted by the RCC Secretary General to the RCC Board in line with Article 15 of the Statute of the RCC. It covers the period between 1 January and 31 March 2017.


16 May 2017
RCC Board accepts organisation’s Annual Report 2016 – 2017 news

The Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 2016 – 2017 has been accepted by the organisation’s Board, at its 32nd meeting in Sarajevo today. “This Annual Report covers an important period for the RCC and its activities. We have completed the implementation of the previous Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) for 2014-2016 and transitioned to the new ...


08 May 2017
Goran Svilanovic presented with Dr Elemer Hantos Prize for promotion of economic cooperation in the region news

Belgrade – Charles Epping, President of The Central Europe Foundation (CEF), presented Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Dr Elemer Hatnos Prize as recognition of his efforts to promote regional economic cooperation in South East Europe at the award ceremony in Belgrade tonight.      “I am very flattered by the honour and trust CEF ...


10 Apr 2017
Germany continues its support to Regional Cooperation Council news

Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the German Federal Foreign office (Auswärtige Amt) signed an agreement on financial grant to support RCC’s public awareness activities. The grant agreement of 100, 000 euro is to support RCC communication and public awareness activities in the course of 2017-’18. The agreement was signed by the RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic ...


20 Mar 2017
RCC presents its activities and core of regional cooperation in South East Europe to young diplomats news

Sandanski/Sarajevo - Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Stefana Greavu, Head of RCC’s Political Department spoke today to young diplomats from all over South East Europe, at the 12th Winter School on Diplomacy, in Sandanski, Bulgaria. This year’s edition of the Winter School of Diplomacy was devoted to EU and NATO in South Eastern Europe and ...


17 Mar 2017
Western Balkans economies to work with Regional Cooperation Council and EU to further economic cooperation news

Sarajevo - At the meeting of six Western Balkans Prime Ministers with the European Commission and the European External Action Service in Sarajevo yesterday, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitments on the EU accession path, took stock of the progress made thus far and set out preparations for the next summit hosted by Italy in Trieste on 12 July 2017.   The participants discussed ...


15 Mar 2017
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 September – 31 December 2016 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 15 March 2017.


15 Mar 2017
RCC Board meets in Sarajevo for 31st time news

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board met for the first time in 2017 in Sarajevo today. The RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic presented the report on activities of the organization’s Secretariat in the period September-December 2016 and informed the Board on its key forthcoming  activities. "The goals at the centre of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme ...


03 Mar 2017
RCC presents its report on activities in countering radicalization and violent extremism to SEECP Foreign Ministers news

Zagreb/Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, presented the RCC’s report on activities in countering radicalization and violent extremism (CVE/FTF), at the informal meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the South - East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), in Zagreb today. The report, providing an overview of the year 2016, ...


17 Feb 2017
Svilanovic: We should turn to regional economic integration of the Western Balkans news

MUNICH/SARAJEVO – Perspectives of the South East European economies’ reform processes in light of the current dilemma whether or not they should be continued against the European Union accession background, was the topic elaborately discussed at the BMW Foundation Global Dialogue session held in Munich today. Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), ...


09 Feb 2017
RCC at the meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the Western Balkans six in Skopje news

Svilanovic: RCC to contribute making the region prosperous and stable   SKOPJE/SARAJEVO, 9 February 2017 – “It is of paramount importance to ensure further progress and reforms in the region, as they are irreversible processes triggered by the EU accession aspirations. Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is looking forward to continuation of close cooperation with you in making this ...


07 Feb 2017
RCC Secretary General discusses organisation’s activities with EU officials in Brussels news

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO, 7 February 2017 – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, was in a two-day visit to Brussels where he met with Thomas Mayr-Harting, Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia in the European External Action Service, and Christian Danielsson, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission. Svilanovic also briefed the Committee ...


16 Dec 2016
Justice and Home Affairs discussed at EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum news

Brdo pri Kranju/Sarajevo - Efficiency and cooperation of judiciaries, operational cooperation in matters such as migration, border management and internal security, including counter-terrorism and firearms trafficking were the main topics discussed at the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs held under Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Brdo ...


13 Dec 2016
Erhard Busek visits RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo news

Evolved approach to regional cooperation in South East Europe discussed during the visit Sarajevo – Erhard Busek, former Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, predecessor of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) visited RCC’s Secretariat in Sarajevo today. RCC team led by the Secretary General Goran Svilanovic welcomed Busek, presenting him the ...


08 Dec 2016
RCC Secretary General meets Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs news

Hamburg/Sarajevo  - The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Republic of Croatia, Davor Ivo Stier on the margins of OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Hamburg, Germany today. The two officials discussed Croatian Chairmanship of the South East European Cooperation Process ...


07 Dec 2016
RCC’s Svilanovic at Brussels’ Balkans Summit: ‘Business as usual will not work’ news

The accession process should keep the region busy dealing with its development Sarajevo/Brussels – “When it comes to the enlargement, ‘business as usual’ is the only policy which will not work“, said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, speaking at the panel ‘EU membership: the long road from vision to reality’ of the Balkans Summit in Brussels ...


29 Nov 2016
Launch of Advocacy Strategy for the EU Integration of the Western Balkans hosted by RCC Liaison Office in Brussels news

Brussels/Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Liaison Office in Brussels hosted today the official EU launch of the Advocacy Strategy for the EU Integration of the Western Balkans, an event organized by the European Movement International in collaboration with the RCC.  The idea of a comprehensive advocacy strategy originated from the European Movement in Serbia, who joined ...


06 Nov 2016
Statute page

The Statute forms the basis for the operations of the RCC. According to it, the RCC Board provides operational guidance and supervision to the organization. It comprises of those RCC participants contributing to the budget of the RCC Secretariat as well as the EU, represented by a representative of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a representative ...


25 Oct 2016
RCC Deputy Secretary General's presentation at NATO's 93rd Rose-Roth Seminar held in Pristina, 22-24 October 2016. meeting document

RCC Deputy Secretary General Gazmend Turdiu spoke about the RCC activities, achievements of the SEE 2020 Strategy and the need and challenges of the economic growth in Western Balkans at "An Agenda for Regional Growth" session within NOTO's Rose-Roth seminar.


12 Oct 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 April – 31 August 2016 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 12 October 2016


12 Oct 2016
Organisation’s results and upcoming activities in the focus of 30th RCC Board meeting news

Sarajevo, 12 October 2016 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic presented to the RCC Board today the implementation and results of the RCC’s Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) 2014-2016, as well as how these feed into RCC’s next three-year strategy 2017-2019.  Result of regional activities: Up to 30% lower roaming costs for consumers in the region  “We ...


27 Sep 2016
RCC Secretary General meets U.S. State Department officials news

The state of play in regional cooperation and future RCC activities discussed at regular annual meetings in Washington D.C. Sarajevo/Washington – Interventions of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in regional cooperation in South East Europe (SEE), with special emphasis on areas of governance, rule of law and security were discussed at the series of regular annual meetings of the organisation's ...


22 Sep 2016
Connection, Communication, Cooperation in South East Europe press release

These are the topics discussed at informal SEECP Foreign Affairs Ministers’ meeting in New York today  Sarajevo/New York - Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic attended the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), organized on the margins of the 71st Session of the United Nations ...


16 Sep 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 January - 31 March 2015 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 12 May 2015


16 Sep 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 April - 20 September 2015 agreement

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 15 October 2015


16 Sep 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 21 September - 31 December 2014 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 26 February 2015


16 Sep 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 April - 15 September 2014 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 15 October 2014


13 Sep 2016
Svilanovic at Milocer Development Forum: We at the RCC foster multi-dimensional approach to sustainable development news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Goran Svilanovic participated today at the regional Milocer Development Forum in Cetinje (Montenegro) where he presented some of the specific RCC contributions towards strengthening sustainable development in the region. Svilanovic also shared with the Forum participants some of the most important messages of this year’s RCC Balkan Barometer ...


02 Jun 2016
Svilanovic: Making sure that local administrations are well prepared for demanding EU accession process and membership, is our common objective news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, took part at the Enlargement Day, organised by the European Committee of the Regions in cooperation with DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations of the European Commission, in Brussels today. Speaking at the roundtable discussion on EU local and regional authorities experience in using structural and cohesion ...


31 May 2016
RCC embarks on new three-year working cycle as the Strategy and Work Programme for 2017-2019 gets endorsed at the organisation’s Annual Meeting press release

Pravets – The new three-year Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was endorsed at the organisation’s ninth Annual meeting in Pravets (Bulgaria) today. The meeting, co-organized with the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office 2015-2016 of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) also endorsed the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General featuring the ...


31 May 2016
Annual Meeting 2016 of the Regional Cooperation Council page

The Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) took place on 31 May 2016, in Pravets, Bulgaria, back-to-back with the SEECP Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. It gathered representatives of the 46 participants of the organization, as well as regional organizations and initiatives engaged in regional cooperation in South East Europe. Introductory remarks were be made by the ...


31 May 2016
Strategy and Work Programme 2017-2019, 'Changing with the Region' report

The Strategy and Work Programme 2017-2019, 'Changing with the Region', of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, endorsed at the RCC Annual Meeting, on 31 May 2016 in Pravets, Bulgaria, has been designed to respond to the needs of the region and add value to cooperation in South East Europe in the areas of joint interest. The Strategy and Work Programme outlines the organisation’s vision ...


31 May 2016
SEECP foreign ministers endorse the new RCC’s three-year Strategy and Work Programme news

Pravets, 31 May 2016 - Meeting in Pravets (Bulgaria) today, the foreign ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) endorsed the Annual Report of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 2015-2016 presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic, as well as the new three-year Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) of the RCC.  Speaking at today’s meeting, Goran Svilanovic ...


30 May 2016
Strategy and Work Programme page

The Strategy and Work Programme 2023-2025 ‘Regional Response in Times of Uncertainty’, of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat was endorsed at the RCC Annual Meeting, on 9 June 2022 in Thessaloniki, Greece. The overarching goal of SWP 2023-2025 is to promote the prosperity of South East Europe by supporting sustainable and equitable economic growth policies to enhance regional ...


23 May 2016
RCC to present the new three-year strategy and work programme at its Annual meeting in Pravets, Bulgaria news

Sarajevo – The new three-year Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will be presented at the ninth Annual meeting of the organisation on 31 May 2016 in Pravets, Bulgaria. The meeting, co-organized with the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office 2015-2016 of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), is expected to endorse the RCC SWP together with the ...


13 May 2016
RCC Secretary General at the Forum of EU Strategy for Adriatic and Ionian Region news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, spoke today at the 1st Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR), in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Svilanovic presented the implementation structure, and programing and monitoring processes, of the RCC’s South East Europe (SEE) 2020 development Strategy, but also spoke about the synergies between ...


11 May 2016
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on Regional Cooperation in South East Europe in 2015-2016 report

The Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016. It outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


11 May 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 January – 31 March 2016 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 11 May 2016


11 May 2016
RCC Board accepts the new three-year Strategy and Work Programme of the organization news

The new three-year Strategy and Work Programme (SWP) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has been accepted today by the organisation’s Board, at its meeting in Sarajevo. The RCC SWP refers to the period 2017 – 2019, and outlines the organisation’s vision and activities in the future period. The Board also accepted the Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council ...


27 Apr 2016
“EU incomplete without the Western Balkans” press release

Vienna/Sarajevo  – An impressive public panel hosted last night by Austrian Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Sebastian Kurz,  rounded off a two day conference in Vienna called “Energizing the Enlargement Process by Solving Bilateral Disputes”. Set up by the European Fund for the Balkans (EFB) and supported by the Austrian and French Ministries for Foreign ...


14 Apr 2016
Synergising RCC and EU macro-regional strategies news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted and co-organised today the first part of a two-day meeting of the Steering Group of Priority Area 10 (PA10) of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). This meeting is an opportunity to present to the PA10 Steering Group and all interested stakeholders the role that the RCC plays in promoting regional cooperation and supporting the EU integration ...


06 Apr 2016
Continued German support for RCC activities news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the German Federal Foreign office (Auswärtige Amt) signed an agreement today on a 50,000 euro grant to support RCC’s public awareness activities in 2016. The agreement was signed by the RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic and the German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Hellbach. These funds, provided by the Federal ...


14 Mar 2016
RCC Secretary General speaks to young diplomats from South East Europe about region’s opportunities and challenges news

Sandanski/Sarajevo, 15th March 2016 - The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, spoke today to young diplomats from all over South East Europe, at the 11th Winter School on Diplomacy, in Sandanski, Bulgaria. The event, co-organized by the RCC, Bulgarian Chairmanship in Office of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEEPC), Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute, ...


08 Mar 2016
German MPs: Regional Cooperation Council has to be strengthened news

Members of the German Parliament (Bundestag) from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) have said that the role of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) have to be strengthened. This was presented in a document titled ‘Consolidating the European Idea in the Western Balkans’ which was presented also at a Conference of the same name, held in ...


26 Feb 2016
Sarajevo: RCC Board meets for the first time in 2016 news

The 28th meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board took place in Sarajevo today. RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, presented the activities of the RCC Secretariat since October 2015 and the Board accepted them. For the first time, the Board heard and discussed the outline of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme for 2017 – 2019, which is expected to be adopted later ...


16 Feb 2016
Political stability, growth and jobs – Svilanovic on strengthening the ties in the region news

The challenges but also  the opportunities for closer regional cooperation are aplenty in the year which just started, said Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic at today’s one day conference on “Balkan Partnership, strengthening the Region’s ties”, organised by the Friends of Europe in Brussels. Svilanovic said that the RCC is deeply engaged ...


03 Feb 2016
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 October – 31 December 2015 report

The Report was presented by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at the 28th RCC Board meeting held at the RCC Secretariat on 26 February 2016.


02 Feb 2016
SEECP ministers discuss migration issues press release

Sofia/Sarajevo, 2 February 2016 - “In this year, we will continue to see rising hopes for more progress on the European and Euro-Atlantic integration path of the South East European region”, said the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) at this morning’s informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South East Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP) held in Sofia.  The ...


18 Jan 2016
Conclusions and Recommendations, Regional Cooperation Day: "End of a tough year, what will 2016 be like" (Civil Society forum) report

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and representatives of the regional Civil Society Organisations, who mainly came from think-tanks, gathered in Sarajevo on 18-19th December 2015 at the Regional Cooperation Day to discuss the impact of CS organizations on EU integration process on the national and regional level.


18 Dec 2015
Regional Cooperation Day in Sarajevo: Strong debate about a tough year press release

Regional Cooperation Council organised a meeting of civil sector representatives from South East Europe economies and journalists from the region SARAJEVO, 18 December 2015 – Civil sector representatives from South East Europe economies and journalists from the region met today in Sarajevo to discuss the current and the next year within the Regional Cooperation Day organised by the Regional Cooperation ...


16 Dec 2015
RCC: Sarajevo to host Regional Cooperation Day press release

Sarajevo - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising a gathering of representatives of civil society and media from the South East Europe region to mark the Regional Cooperation Day. The conference titled “End of a tough year, what will 2016 be like?” will be held on Friday, 18 December, starting at 09:00 a.m., at Gazi Husrev Bey’s Library, Gazi Husrev-begova No. 46, Sarajevo. ...


23 Nov 2015
SEECP Political Directors meet in Sofia news

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic attended today’s meeting of Political Directors of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the first organised by the current Chair-in-Office, Bulgaria. Mr Svilanovic briefed the meeting on the most relevant RCC’s activities and outlined the focus for the forthcoming period – addressing pressing regional priorities ...


29 Oct 2015
Better cooperation between the RCC and the OSCE news

Vienna/Sarajevo, 29 October 2015 - Ways and means for better cooperation between the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) were discussed today at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. This was the first time that the RCC was addressing the Permanent Council jointly with the South-East European Cooperation Process ...


23 Oct 2015
Article by RCC Secretary General for Europe's World article

Europe's World, independent Europe-wide policy journal, published in its Autumn issue an article by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, on EU enlargement.


16 Oct 2015
Job creation and dynamising economic life is crucial for the future of South East Europe (SEE) - Inter-parliamentary Conference in Sarajevo ends today news

Sarajevo, 15/16 October 2015 – A two day inter-parliamentary conference coorganised by the European Parliament, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina ended today in Sarajevo. It was attended by Members of the European Parliament and Members of Parliament  of EU Enlargement countries. Economic Governance and Job creation were the focus of the two ...


15 Oct 2015
Meeting of the Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo, 15 October 2015 – The 27th meeting of the RCC Board took place in Sarajevo today. RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, presented the activities of the RCC Secretariat between April and October 2015 and the Board accepted them. Particular attention was given to RCC’s engagement in those aspects of the Berlin Process which are in line with RCC’s mission and goals.  The Board ...


06 Oct 2015
Countering violent extremism in focus of RCC-State Department talks news

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for European and Eurasian affairs, Hoyt Yee, met in Washington yesterday and exchanged views on the current political situation in Southeast Europe (SEE) and the state of the Euro-Atlantic integration process of the region. The two officials specifically looked at RCC’s ...


01 Oct 2015
RCC and regional issues discussed in New York press release

New York – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, attended an informal meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Foreign Ministers Meeting yesterday in New York. The meeting was hosted by Daniel Mitov, Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Chair in Office (CiO) of the SEECP. Such meetings have become a regular feature on the ...


15 Sep 2015
Sofia: RCC at the conference on energy security and infrastructure in South East Europe news

Energy Security and Energy Infrastructure in South East Europe are the focus of a two-day conference that started in Sofia today, organised by the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and opened by the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov.   Keynote speeches were delivered by the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible ...


14 Sep 2015
Svilanovic officially signs Agreement on Assumption of Duties as RCC Secretary General in second term news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanović, signed the official Agreement on Assumption of Duties of the RCC Secretary General, for the period 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2018. On behalf of the Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the agreement was signed by the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Daniel Mitov. ...


11 Sep 2015
RCC Secretary General receives Swedish Ambassador to BiH news

Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, received today the Swedish Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fredrik Schiller as well as the Head of Development Cooperation at the Swedish Embassy, Marie Bergstrom. The discussions focused on the activities of the RCC and on Swedish aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina.


10 Sep 2015
Interview by RCC Secretary General to Radio Free Europe interview

In an interview for Radio Free Europe, Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, spoke about the current refugee crisis, described as the largest since the World War II.


09 Sep 2015
RCC Secretary General visits Foreign Minister Crnadak news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, met today in Sarajevo with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Igor Crnadak. This was the first official visit by Mr. Svilanovic to the Bosnian Foreign Ministry since Mr. Crnadak was appointed in March 2015.  Mr. Svilanovic and Mr. Crnadak agreed on the necessity of boosting regional cooperation, ...


31 Aug 2015
Rama, Svilanovic and Vucic, tonight in regional TV Talk Show “Okruzenje” news

The margins of last Thursday’s Vienna summit of the WB6 leaders and the leaders of the Berlin Process countries and the EU, were rich with events in the days preceding and following the actual Summit. For the first time ever, Western Balkans Civil Society activists were included and had an opportunity to present themselves to their leaders and the civil society component will become a regular ...


27 Aug 2015
Tackling tomorrow's issues today - bilateral disputes in the Western Balkans discussed in Vienna news

Vienna - Today’s Western Balkans Summit in Vienna is being accompanied by a series of side events that complement the political and economic issues discussed by the WB leaders and the initiators of the Berlin Process – last year’s host Germany, this year’s Austria and next year’s France, as well as the European Commission.  Wednesday’s events included the Civil Society Forum which ...


25 Aug 2015
RCC at the Vienna WB summit press release

Sarajevo-Vienna, 25 August 2015 – West Balkan and EU leaders will gather in Vienna in the next two days for the continuation of the Berlin Process, widely perceived as an initiative to pursue the EU accession process of the region. The actual Summit and its political discussions will be held on August 27th accompanied by meeting of economic Ministers.  For the first time ever, West Balkan ...


19 Jun 2015
RCC Secretary General on the region’s economy news

The Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the South East European Cooperation Process (CiO SEECP) has kicked off its activities with the two-day event in Sofia focusing on the state of regional economy and ways to improve it. Taking part in today’s round table which gathered representatives of the SEE ministries of economy, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), ...


05 Jun 2015
RCC Secretary General briefs South East Europe’s Ambassadors accredited in Brussels to EU and NATO and EC Director General Christian Danielson news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Goran Svilanovic met today with the Ambassadors of SEECP participants accredited to EU and NATO in Brussels as well as with EC Director General Christian Danielsson. The Secretary General briefed the diplomats on the main developments in the regional cooperation in SEE. The focus of the briefing was on the most important activities ...


26 May 2015
SEECP summit approves appointment of Goran Svilanovic as RCC Secretary General press release

Tirana/Sarajevo, 26 May 2015 – Meeting in Tirana today, the participants of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) summit approved the appointment of Goran Svilanovic for a second three year term as the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General. The Declaration adopted at the Summit also endorses the RCC’s Annual Report.  The summit host, Albanian President ...


22 May 2015
RCC Annual Meeting and presentation of the SEE Development Scoreboard press release

Tirana/Sarajevo - The RCC’s (Regional Cooperation Council) Annual Meeting in Tirana today heard a strong endorsement of the organisation’s efforts in fostering economic recovery and speeding up the European integration process of the region. The meeting’s host, Albanian Foreign Minister and Chair in Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Ditmir Bushati, said the RCC ...


22 May 2015
SEECP Foreign Ministers appoint Goran Svilanovic as RCC Secretary General for a second 3 year term news

Meeting in Tirana today, the Foreign ministers of the South- East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) unanimously appointed Goran Svilanovic for a second term as the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General. The ministers also adopted the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General on regional cooperation in South East Europe (SEE). Earlier in the day, The RCC’s Annual Meeting ...


18 May 2015
RCC to present South East Europe Development Scoreboard press release

SARAJEVO, 18 May 2015 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat will officially launch and present the South East Europe Development Scoreboard (SEEDS) on the sidelines of its Annual Meeting, on the 22nd of May 2015 in Tirana, Albania. SEEDS is a comprehensive but simple web-based platform which enables any user to monitor the implementation of the region’s development strategy ...


12 May 2015
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on Regional Cooperation in South East Europe in 2014-2015 report

The report covers the period April 2014-March 2015 and outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


12 May 2015
RCC Board endorses renewal of mandate for RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic news

The Board of the Regional Cooperation council met in Sarajevo today ahead of the Annual meeting which will take place in Tirana, later this month. The Board was presented with the Annual Report on regional cooperation in South East Europe which was accepted. The Board also accepted the Report of the Secretary General and the RCC Secretariat for the first trimester of this year. The Board also endorsed ...


08 May 2015
RCC Secretary General briefs Austrian parliamentarians on the SEE2020 Strategy news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, briefed Austrian parliamentarians today on the implementation of the SEE2020 Strategy, RCC’s primary instrument for boosting growth and jobs in the region’s economies. Mr Svilanovic was taking part in a parliamentary hearing on the future Austrian regional cooperation strategy for the Danube Region and Western Balkans ...


06 May 2015
Regional Cooperation Day in Brussels press release

Sarajevo/Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Day continued in Brussels with a High Level Conference on cooperation and enlargement in the Western Balkans which included Albanian Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati, the EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, the Head of the Representation of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Johannes Jung and the RCC ...


06 May 2015
RCC’S Balkan Barometer Presented at the Regional Cooperation Day in Brussels press release

Sarajevo/Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Day (RCC) kicked off in Brussels with a premiere of the Balkan Barometer (BB), a comprehensive survey encompassing public and business opinion and sentiment on crucial economic and development issues. The Balkan Barometer is a part of an RCC’s “toolbox” in tracking the progress of the South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020). The BB study ...


06 May 2015
Regional Cooperation Day ends in Brussels news

The Regional Cooperation Day concluded in Brussels with closing remarks by Igor Luksic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, MEP Andrej Plenkovic, Vice Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Andreas Brandstaetter from the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Two panel discussions in the afternoon dealt with enlargement, economic growth and governance as well as ...


09 Apr 2015
Germany continues to support RCC’s activities press release

Sarajevo - Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat (RCC) and H.E. Dr Christian Hellbach, German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed an agreement with which the Federal Republic of Germany continues its support of the RCC.   This is the seventh consecutive year that the FR Germany is backing RCC’s activities with a 50.000 Euro grant ...


02 Mar 2015
Implementation and monitoring of RCC’s SEE 2020 strategy discussed in Skopje today news

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Fatmir Besimi, Minister of Economy, Bekim Neziri, and Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanović, opened a meeting dedicated to the implementation and monitoring of the RCC’s South East Europe (SEE) 2020 development strategy. Mr Besimi said that his government’s development programmes and plans are in harmony with ...


06 Feb 2015
EU continues to support regional cooperation aimed at wellbeing of citizens news

The European Commission will continue to strongly support the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) to enhance regional cooperation and promote European integration in South East Europe (SEE). This was confirmed during constructive meeting between RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic and the Commissioner for the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, ...


11 Dec 2014
Article/audio recording by Radio Funkhaus Europa featuring Regional Cooperation Council article

The article/audio recording features RCC past and future activites.


11 Dec 2014
RCC Secretary General meets SEECP Troika news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, met today in Sarajevo with the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Troika (The “Troika” consists of the previous, current and next Chair in office of the SEECP, in this case - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria). The Secretary General informed the Troika on what the RCC has achieved so far in implementing ...


10 Dec 2014
A kick-start to stalled accession? news

Brussels, 9 December 2014: Balkan revival was the topic in Brussels’s Cercle Gaulois grand hall yesterday with Friends of Europe as the host. Guest speakers included the Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama, MEPs Eduard Kukan and Andrej Plenkovic, the foreign minister of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Nikola Poposki, Director General for Enlargement in the European Commission Christian Danielsson ...


09 Dec 2014
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian daily Politika interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about the EU prospects of the region.


28 Nov 2014
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH weekly Dani interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about the current momentum in the region, explains why he thinks BiH will make significant steps forward in 2015, presents the SEE 2020 Strategy for employment, and explains why he brings Nusic’s play ‘Gospodja Ministarka’ to the citizens of Sarajevo.


27 Nov 2014
European Commission supports RCC with 7,15 million euro news

A two-year contribution agreement to the amount of 7,150,000.00 euro supporting the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in 2015-2016 was signed in Brussels today between the European Commission (EC) and the RCC. This is the first time that the European Commission has signed a two-year contribution agreement which is a clear sign of EC’s support to the RCC’s activities ...


23 Oct 2014
Svilanovic: Strong and vibrant regional economies crucial for EU integration press release

Belgrade, 23 October 23, 2014 – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, pointed out today that even though political stability, reconciliation and security are still crucial activities for the RCC, the region as a whole needs to focus on sustainable development and growth.  Speaking at the WB6 Meeting on Economic Governance and Connectivity ...


15 Oct 2014
RCC Board adopts Report on RCC activities April-September 2014 news

Sarajevo – At the third meeting of the RCC Board this year the RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, presented a number of activities of the RCC Secretariat in the period April – September 2014 and informed the Board on the most important future activities, especially those related to the implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2014-16 and its central pillar: the SEE 2020 Strategy. ...


01 Sep 2014
Berlin conference confirms importance of regional cooperation news

Last week’s conference in Berlin, hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, ushered in a new phase of EU accession for the Western Balkans countries, one in which the goals and targets are more clearly defined and assorted in an ongoing process which will be hosted by Austria and then France in the coming years. The Final Declaration by the Chair of the Conference underlined the importance ...


28 Aug 2014
RCC Secretary General attends Western Balkans conference in Berlin news

BERLIN – At the initiative of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and hosted by Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Sigmar Gabriel,  a discussion on economic potentials and prospects of the Western Balkans kicked off the Western Balkans summit in Berlin. The main motto of this conference was “Through trade, investment and regional cooperation to new dynamics” ...


20 Jun 2014
RCC at the meeting of the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, participated in the formal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process (SEECP), in Bucharest today. The Ministers approved the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General 2013/2014. The report covers the period April 2013 – April 2014. It outlines main RCC activities ...


19 Jun 2014
Regional Cooperation Council holds Annual Meeting press release

BUCHAREST – The 6th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) took place in Bucharest today. The meeting endorsed the report of the RCC Secretary General on Regional Cooperation in South East Europe (SEE) 2013-2014 and assessed the implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011 – 2013. The RCC Annual meeting, co-chaired by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic ...


19 Jun 2014
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2013-2014 report

The report covers the period April 2013-April 2014 and outlines main RCC activities and achievements in the past year. It also lays out the overall background and crucial developments impacting and shaping the activities of the RCC and the region of South East Europe in the reporting period.


06 Jun 2014
RCC to Present its Annual Report and SEE 2020 Scoreboard on 19 June 2014 in Bucharest press release

SARAJEVO – The 6th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will be held in Bucharest, Romania, on 19 June 2014. It is expected to endorse the report of the RCC Secretary General on Regional Cooperation in South East Europe (SEE) 2013-2014, and to assess the implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011 – 2013. The Annual meeting will be preceded by the First ...


19 May 2014
RCC calls EU for continuation of urgent assistance to flood-affected countries in the region press release

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, asked for continuation of EU assistance to flood-affected countries in the region, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, during his meeting with the European Union's Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, in Brussels today. ...


15 May 2014
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian daily Danas interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic's, visit to Sarajevo


14 May 2014
President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović meets with RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanović in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – Goran Svilanović, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Secretary General, met with Filip Vujanović, President of Montenegro, at the organisation’s Secretariat in Sarajevo today. During the meeting Svilanović stressed importance of strong support of the region’s officials to regional cooperation, underlining their commitment and devotion to implementation of the RCC’s ...


13 May 2014
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic visits Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat press release

SARAJEVO – Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General Goran Svilanovic welcomed Serbian delegation led by the Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo today. While congratulating Prime Minister Vucic on the appointment and the new mandate of his Government, Secretary General Svilanovic highlighted the importance of the Government’s continued commitment ...


01 May 2014
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian Magazine CorD interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General is speaking about the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy, organisation's priorities, economic situation in SEE and regional cooperation.


24 Apr 2014
Regional Cooperation Council Board accepts the organisation’s Annual Report press release

SARAJEVO, 24 April 2014 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board accepted the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General on regional cooperation in South East Europe in the period 2013-2014 at its 23rd meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, today. “The year behind us was a challenging one”, said Goran Svilanovic, RCC Secretary General, adding that “the consequences ...


27 Mar 2014
Germany supports RCC’s public awareness activities with 50,000 euro grant news

Agreement on 50,000 euro grant to support public awareness activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in 2014 was signed by the RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic and German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ulrike Knotz in Sarajevo today. The contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany is to be used for communications and raising public awareness activities ...


02 Mar 2014
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH news agency FENA interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about the new approach of the European Union towards the countries in the region, RCC’s South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy, and social protests.


27 Feb 2014
Regional Cooperation Council presents Champion of Regional Cooperation award for 2013, marks 6th anniversary press release

SARAJEVO – On the occasion of today’s sixth anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the organization’s Secretary General Goran Svilanovic presented the South East European Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (SEECEL) with the Champion of Regional Cooperation award for 2013. The award was handed to Efka Heder, SEECEL Director. “The SEECEL has been awarded for its active ...


27 Feb 2014
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2013.


24 Feb 2014
Address by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, at EBRD high-level meeting on investing in the Western Balkans speech

The Speech was delivered at the conference “Investing in the Western Balkans”, hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in London on 24 February 2014


27 Jan 2014
Article by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, featuring RCC’s SEE 2020 strategy article

The author article by the RCC Secretary General, has been published by 9 dailies from the region: in Politika (Serbia, published on 24 January 2014); Dnevni avaz, Nezavisne novine and Vecernji list (Bosnia and Herzegovina, published on 22 January 2014); Vijesti (Montenegro, published on 20 January 2014); Mapo (Albania, published on 17 January 2014); Jutarnji list (Croatia, published on 17 January 2014); ...


21 Jan 2014
Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General congratulates Serbia on opening accession talks with European Union press release

SARAJEVO – Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), congratulated Serbia for opening negotiations for a European Union (EU) membership today. “This is a great day for Serbia as its European perspective has now been fully set on track. This is also a great moment for the entire region, as it sends a message that hard work, perseverance and courage pay ...


19 Dec 2013
European Commission supports work of RCC Secretariat with EUR 3.575 million grant news

A 3,575,000 euro grant agreement supporting activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in 2014 was signed today in Brussels between the European Commission (EC) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The grant amount is significantly larger than the EC’s previous contributions to the work of the RCC, which amounted to approximately 800,000 euro per year, and is ...


21 Nov 2013
South East Europe 2020 strategy report

The goal of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), is to improve living conditions in the region and bring competitiveness and development back in focus, closely following the vision of the EU strategy Europe 2020. It stresses out the shared vision of the SEE economies to open up to 1 million new jobs by 2020, by enabling employment growth from 39% to 44%, ...


02 Oct 2013
Regional Cooperation Council Board holds last meeting in 2013, supports final preparations for SEE 2020 growth strategy news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board RCC Board heard today a report by Secretary General on activities of the organization’s Secretariat in the period April-September 2013, as well as information on future plans. The report focuses on final preparations for the upcoming implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2014-2016, particularly its core element, ...


30 Sep 2013
RCC, GIZ agree to cooperate on foreign trade promotion, energy efficiency, legal reform and modernisation of municipal services news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the German Organization Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) signed in Sarajevo today a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in foreign trade promotion, energy efficiency, legal reform and modernisation of municipal services. The agreement foresees cooperation between the RCC Secretariat and GIZ until 31 March ...


24 Sep 2013
Article by Goran Svilanovic, RCC Secretary General, to World Commerce Review article

In the article, the RCC Secretary General is commenting regional cooperation in South East Europe and RCC’s role in that context, especially in relation to the preparation of the SEE 2020 strategy.


21 Jul 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian news agency Tanjug interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General is speaking about the situation in Serbia, Belgrade-Prishtina relations, and regional cooperation.


18 Jul 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian weekly Nin interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about Serbia’s EU integration, Belgrade-Prishtina agreement, impacts of Croatia’s EU entry, regional cooperation, and main goals of South East Europe (SEE) 2020 growth strategy.


29 Jun 2013
Article by RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic to Al Jazeera article

The article, published at the portal of Al Jazeera Balkans, is a commentary of Croatia’s entry into the EU.


21 Jun 2013
Article on regional cooperation by Lidija Topic, RCC Advisor interview

The article is a part of the book ‘The European future of the Western Balkans: Thessaloniki@10 (2003-2013)’, published by the EU Institute for Security Studies in 2013


17 Jun 2013
RCC Secretary General briefs diplomats in Sarajevo of results of the organization's 5th Annual Meeting news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, briefed today the diplomatic community in Sarajevo of results in implementing the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, the outcome of the RCC Annual Meeting held in Ohrid last month, and the state of regional cooperation in South East Europe. Secretary General Svilanovic informed that participants of the ...


31 May 2013
South East European ministers of foreign affairs express support to RCC work, hail its SEE 2020 growth strategy press release

OHRID/SARAJEVO – Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) approved in Ohrid today the annual report of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General and the organization’s work programme for 2014-2016, focused on SEE 2020 – a Job-Creating Growth and EU Integration Strategy. The Ministers stressed importance of the RCC and praised its ...


31 May 2013
Address by RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanović at the meeting of SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs speech

The address was delivered in Ohrid on 31 May 2013.


30 May 2013
Regional Cooperation Council key forum for all-inclusive regional cooperation in South East Europe, say organization’s participants press release

OHRID/SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is a key forum for inclusive regional cooperation in South East Europe, participants of the 5th Annual Meeting of the organization agreed in Ohrid today, while endorsing its new strategy for the 2014-2016 period and the annual report of the RCC Secretary General. Presenting the report and the strategy, Goran Svilanović, RCC Secretary General, ...


30 May 2013
Annual Meeting endorsed new Regional Cooperation Council strategy and annual report press release

OHRID/SARAJEVO – The 5th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) endorsed the organization’s new strategy for the 2014-2016 period and the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General. The meeting was held in Ohrid on 30th May 2013. The event, co-chaired by the RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, on behalf of the chair of the South-East ...


30 May 2013
Strategy and Work Programme of the Regional Cooperation Council for 2014-2016 report

The strategy was adopted by the RCC Board on 25 April 2013 in Sarajevo and endorsed by the participants of the RCC Annual Meeting, on 30 May 2013 in Ohrid.


30 May 2013
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2012-2013 report

The report, endorsed by the participants of the RCC Annual Meeting, on 30 May 2013 in Ohrid, covers the period May 2012 – April 2013.


30 May 2013
Strategy and Work Programme of the Regional Cooperation Council for 2014-2016 report

The strategy was adopted by the RCC Board on 25 April 2013 in Sarajevo and endorsed by the participants of the RCC Annual Meeting, on 30 May 2013 in Ohrid.


30 May 2013
Address by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, at the fifth RCC Annual Meeting speech

The fifth RCC Annual Meeting was held on 30 May 2013 in Ohrid.


16 May 2013
Regional Cooperation Council Secretary General meets chief executive of Vienna Economic Forum news

Goran Svilanovic, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, met today with Ambassador Elena Kirtcheva, Secretary General of the Vienna Economic Forum (VEF), at the premises of the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo. The two officials discussed political and economic situation in South East Europe, as well as ways to improve cooperation between the two institutions. In this context, Ambassador ...


02 May 2013
Address by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting speech

The Permanent Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), was held in Vienna, on 2 May 2013. The document containing RCC Secretary General’s address also includes links to available responses by the missions to OSCE.


25 Apr 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian weekly Novi magazin interview

In the interview RCC Secretary General speaks about Belgrade-Prishtina agreement, RCC activities and South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy.


25 Apr 2013
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 18 February to 10 April 2013, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


25 Apr 2013
Regional Cooperation Council Board adopts the organization’s new three-year strategy and work programme news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board adopted today the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2014-2016, centred around implementation of the South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) strategy, as the organization's contribution to overcoming economic crisis in the region. "The main goal of SEE 2020 is economic and social growth in the region: employment growth by 12%, increase in mutual trade ...


22 Apr 2013
Germany supports work of RCC Secretariat with a 50,000 euro grant news

A 50,000 euro grant agreement supporting activities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in 2013 was signed by Goran Svilanovic, RCC Secretary General, and Ulrike Knotz, German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Sarajevo today. The contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany will be used to increase awareness about the RCC Secretariat’s work, primarily through organization ...


11 Mar 2013
Seven German ambassadors from Western Balkans and foreign ministry discuss regional issues, express support to RCC work press release

SARAJEVO, 11 March 2013 – 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. The ambassadors gave full support to RCC efforts in ...


28 Feb 2013
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 8 October 2012 to 15 February 2013, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013


28 Feb 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Croatian public broadcaster HRT interview

The interview has been broadcasted in HRT's magazine ‘Horizonti’ on 27 February 2013.


28 Feb 2013
Regional Cooperation Council Board amends statutory documents to reflect EU-mediated agreement on Kosovo* regional representation news

At its first meeting in 2013, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board decided to amend the statute and the list of participants of the organization, reflecting the results of the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina. “The participation of Kosovo* in the Regional Cooperation Council is a confirmation of the organization’s full dedication to ensuring all-inclusiveness in ...


27 Feb 2013
Address by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanović, at a panel discussion marking the 5th RCC anniversary speech

A panel discussion ‘Five years of Regional Cooperation Council: Building on foundations and embracing new challenges’, was a central element which marked the fifth anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in Sarajevo on 27 February 2013.


27 Feb 2013
Foreign Minister Poposki visits RCC Secretariat, backs organization’s goals and activities news

The current Chair-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, paid a visit to the RCC Secretariat today to express support to the activities of the organization and congratulate Secretary General Goran Svilanovic on his recent appointment to the post. The SEECP Chair underlined ...


18 Feb 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Beta news agency and EurActiv Serbia portal interview

In the interview the RCC Secretary General speaks about development of South East Europe 2020 Strategy, activities of the RCC, region’s EU integration processes, neighbourly relations and cooperation in the region, visa-free regime for Western Balkans, etc.


18 Feb 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian daily Blic interview

In the interview, the RCC Secretary General speaks about objectives of the South East Europe 2020 Strategy, current relations in the region, and his meetings with Serbia’s top officials in Belgrade last week.


02 Feb 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH daily Dnevni avaz interview

In the interview, the RCC Secretary General speaks about South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy, economic situation in SEE, priorities of RCC in its activity areas, region’s EU bids, etc.


31 Jan 2013
Interview by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH News Agency SRNA interview

In the focus of the RCC Secretary General’s interview to SRNA, published yesterday, is South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy.


31 Jan 2013
Interview by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH News Agency FENA interview

In the interview, the RCC Secretary General talks about current state of regional cooperation, EU integration, dangers of abolishment of visa-free regime for the Balkan countries and the priorities in the RCC work.


08 Jan 2013
New Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council takes up post press release

SARAJEVO – Goran Svilanović, the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), has assumed his duties in Sarajevo today. A Serbian diplomat and politician, Svilanović previously served as Co-ordinator of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (2008-2012). In 2004, he became Chairman of Working Table I (democratization and human rights) of the Stability Pact for ...


10 Dec 2012
Regional Cooperation Council wins award for extraordinary contribution to humanism press release

SARAJEVO – The International Peace Centre Sarajevo (IPC) assigned its traditional Sloboda (Freedom) award to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) for an extraordinary contribution to humanism, fight for human rights and freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe and the world. The RCC has been honoured on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, marked today. The IPC has traditionally assigned ...


09 Nov 2012
Address by the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the South East Europe Investment Committee Ministerial Conference speech

The address was delivered at the conference held in Tirana, Albania, on 9 November 2012.


04 Nov 2012
Interview by Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, to BiH news agency FENA interview

In the interview, published on 4 November 2012, the RCC Secretary General speaks about regional cooperation in South East Europe following the recent European Commission’s 2012 Enlargement Package.


18 Oct 2012
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 4 May to 5 October 2012, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


18 Oct 2012
Regional Cooperation Council Board discusses state of cooperation in South East Europe, thanks outgoing Secretary General Biscevic news

The last meeting in 2012 of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board heard today a report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic on activities of the organization’s Secretariat in the period May-October 2012, primarily in relation to results achieved in the implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, as well as information on the future plans. “As ...


17 Oct 2012
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, to Anadolu Agency interview

In the interview, the RCC Secretary General speaks about visa and enlargement issues in the Western Balkans.


27 Sep 2012
As South East European ministers discuss measures to consolidate cooperation, RCC Secretary General Biscevic is awarded Bulgarian Golden Laurel medal news

The current state of affairs in South East Europe, broadened cooperation in the context of EU enlargement and steps to further enhance and consolidate regional cooperation topped the agenda of an informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the participating States of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), held in New York today, with participation of Hido Biscevic, Regional ...


05 Jul 2012
Commentary by Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, to BiH news agency FENA interview

The RCC Secretary General comments regional cooperation and EU integration process in South East Europe.


24 Jun 2012
Interview by Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, to BiH news agency FENA interview

In the interview, published on 24 June 2012, the RCC Secretary General speaks about the issues in the region and current political and economic situation that affects South East Europe.


22 Jun 2012
RCC briefs diplomats in Sarajevo of results of its 4th Annual Meeting news

The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) briefed today the diplomatic community in Sarajevo of results of the 4th Annual Meeting of the organization and the related South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) events, held in Belgrade last week. RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic informed that the organization’s members emphasized the crucial RCC role in boosting cooperation ...


20 Jun 2012
Germany grants 50,000 euro to support work of RCC Secretariat news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, and German Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ulrike Knotz, signed in Sarajevo today a 50,000 euro grant agreement in support of the work of the RCC Secretariat in 2012. The agreement entails a contribution of the Federal Republic of Germany to RCC Secretariat’s communication activities. It will be used for media ...


15 Jun 2012
South East European Heads of State and Government praise RCC work, thank outgoing and approve of new Secretary General press release

BELGRADE/SARAJEVO, 15 June 2012 – The Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) praised in Belgrade today the achievements of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Secretary General Hido Bisevic, approving at the same time of the election of his successor Goran Svilanovic. They expressed gratitude for the valuable efforts of the first and outgoing ...


14 Jun 2012
South East European foreign ministers appoint Goran Svilanović as the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council press release

BELGRADE/SARAJEVO – Goran Svilanović has been appointed the new Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) by the ministers of foreign affairs of the states participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), at their meeting held in Belgrade today. The appointment is effective as of 1 January 2013 for the period of three years. In this post, Goran Svilanović ...


14 Jun 2012
Address by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at the meeting of SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs speech

The address was delivered in Belgrade, Serbia, on 14 June 2012.


13 Jun 2012
Annual Meeting endorses RCC annual report and nomination of new Secretary General press release

BELGRADE/SARAJEVO – The 4th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) endorsed in Belgrade today the Annual Report of the organization’s Secretary General and the nomination of Goran Svilanovic as the next RCC Secretary General for a three-year period, effective as of 1 January 2013. The meeting, co-chaired by the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic and Serbian Foreign Ministry ...


13 Jun 2012
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on regional co-operation in South East Europe in 2011-2012 report

The report, endorsed by the participants of the RCC Annual Meeting, on 13 June 2012 in Belgrade, Serbia, covers the period May 2011-May 2012.


13 Jun 2012
Address by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, at the RCC Annual Meeting speech

The fourth RCC Annual Meeting was held on 13 June 2012 in Belgrade, Serbia.


07 Jun 2012
Interview by Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, to Deutsche Welle interview

In the interview, published on 7 June 2012, the RCC Secretary General speaks about regional cooperation in South East Europe.


15 May 2012
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 6 March to 3 May 2012, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


15 May 2012
Regional Cooperation Council Board meets in Sarajevo, accepts annual, financial reports news

The second meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board in 2012 accepted today the Annual Report 2011-2012 of the organization’s Secretary General. It also approved the Secretary General’s financial report for 2011. “The Annual Report highlights developments in regional cooperation in South East Europe, points to the remaining political and socio-economic issues in the region, ...


25 Apr 2012
Article by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, published in ‘Die Südosteuropa Mitteilungen’, the journal of Southeast Europe Association article

The article has been published in the first 2012 issue of ‘Die Südosteuropa Mitteilungen’, the journal of Southeast Europe Association.


15 Mar 2012
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 30 November 2011 to 5 March 2012, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


15 Mar 2012
Regional Cooperation Council Board holds its first meeting in 2012, in Sarajevo news

Assessment of the first year of implementation of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, and the report of the organization’s Secretary General on the activities of the Secretariat over the past three months, were in focus of today’s meeting of the RCC Board, held in Sarajevo. “The main objective of the self-assessment, conducted by the RCC Secretariat, ...


14 Mar 2012
Welcoming speech by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at a panel discussion ‘From Ownership to Responsibility: Regional Cooperation in South East Europe and EU Membership’ speech

The panel discussion was held in Sarajevo, BiH, on 14 March 2012, to mark the 4th anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council.


13 Mar 2012
Regional cooperation in South East Europe, EU membership focus of 4th RCC anniversary celebration press release

SARAJEVO – The 4th anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will be marked in Sarajevo tomorrow with a panel discussion From ownership to responsibility: Regional cooperation in South East Europe and EU membership. The panellists will include Hido Biscevic, RCC Secretary General; Peter Sorensen, Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina; Dusko Lopandic, Assistant ...


13 Mar 2012
RCC Secretary General, BiH Foreign Minister meet in Sarajevo news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, held consultations with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zlatko Lagumdzija, in Sarajevo today. Secretary General Biscevic informed Minister Lagumdzija of the evolution of the RCC since its establishment four years ago, as well as the ongoing discussion on possible new focus of the organization ...


06 Mar 2012
RCC Secretary General meets Minister of Foreign Affairs in Skopje news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met in Skopje today with Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as the incoming chair of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP). The talks focused on political and economic developments in South East Europe, including resolution of bilateral issues that have ...


31 Jan 2012
Address by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at informal meeting of SEECP ministers of foreign affairs speech

The meeting took place on 31 January 2012, in Belgrade, Serbia.


31 Jan 2012
RCC Secretary General, Serbian Foreign Minister meet in Belgrade news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met in Belgrade today with Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and the current chair of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), to talk about regional cooperation and political developments in South East Europe. The two officials discussed general shape of developments in the region, including ...


21 Jan 2012
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, published by Albanian daily Gazeta Shqiptare interview

In the interview RCC Secretary General speaks about the RCC’s work and the regional cooperation in South East Europe.


15 Jan 2012
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, to BiH daily Dnevni avaz interview

In the interview RCC Secretary General speaks about relations in South East Europe today as compared to 2008.


02 Jan 2012
Article by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, to New Europe weekly article

The article speaks about regional cooperation in South East Europe.


23 Dec 2011
Interview by Hido Biscevic, RCC Secretary General, to Albanian weekly Tirana Times interview

In the interview, published on 23 December 2011, the RCC Secretary General speaks about the organization’s work and the regional cooperation in South East Europe.


08 Dec 2011
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 9 September - 30 November 2011, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


08 Dec 2011
Regional Cooperation Council Board meets in Sarajevo today, adopts budget news

The Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) reviewed today in Sarajevo the activities of the organization over the past three months, adopted the RCC Secretariat’s budget for 2012, and provided guidance for the future work of the organization. “Despite residual complexities, South East Europe has continued to move forward, creating conditions for enhanced regional cooperation, ownership ...


06 Dec 2011
Written address by Hido Biščević, RCC Secretary General, at the 18th Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council speech

The 18th meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Ministerial Council took place on 6-7 December 2011, in Vilnius, Lithuania.


16 Nov 2011
European Commission’s Director General for Enlargement visits RCC Secretariat news

Director General for Enlargement of the European Commission, Stefano Sannino, visited the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today, to discuss regional cooperation with RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic. Secretary General Biscevic informed about RCC activities and implementation of the organization’s Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, designed to support a lasting ...


14 Nov 2011
Independence, sustainability of public service media in South East Europe needs to be strengthened, agrees Sarajevo conference press release

SARAJEVO – The economic standing, editorial independence and autonomy of public service media need to be improved, to avert political interference, achieve managerial stability, ensure sustainability and stable funding for the public service media, in order for them to fulfill their role, concluded participants of an international seminar on public broadcasting, held in Sarajevo today. Over ...


10 Nov 2011
RCC Secretary General Biščević meets EU Commissioner Füle over regional cooperation news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biščević, met in Brussels today with EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, to talk about current situation in the region and regional cooperation in view of the last month’s European Commission’s Enlargement Package. Commissioner Füle and Secretary General Biščević emphasised ...


05 Oct 2011
RCC Secretary General, Albanian Deputy Prime Minister meet ahead of key European decisions affecting the region news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met today in Tirana with Edmond Haxhinasto, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania, to discuss regional cooperation and developments in South East Europe ahead of European Union’s progress reports due later this month. “Decisions of European institutions over the next few months ...


30 Sep 2011
Protocol on regional cooperation among South East European public media signed in Sarajevo, under RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO, 30 September 2011 – Directors general of 12 public broadcasters signed today in Sarajevo a Protocol on Regional Cooperation in Education and Training among members of the European Association of Public Service Media in South East Europe, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. The event was co-organized by the Association, the Radio-Television of Bosnia ...


25 Sep 2011
Interview by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Hido Biščević, to BiH daily Dnevni list interview

This is the first, political, part of the interview published on 25 September 2011.


23 Sep 2011
RCC Secretary General meets South East European foreign ministers in New York news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, took part in an informal meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII), held in New York yesterday at the margins of the UN General Assembly session. The meeting was initiated by Vuk Jeremic, ...


15 Sep 2011
Report to RCC Board on activities of RCC Secretariat report

The report covers the period from 9 May 2011 to 9 September 2011, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


15 Sep 2011
RCC Board meets in Sarajevo to discuss activities of the organization news

The 28-member Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) met in Sarajevo today, to review activities of the past trimester and set course for the work of the organization until the end of the year. Secretary General of the organization, Hido Biscevic, reported to the Board on details of implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013. "Regardless of oscilations in political ...


07 Sep 2011
RCC Secretary General discusses regional affairs and organization’s activities with senior U.S. and World Bank officials news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met yesterday in Washington D.C. with Phil Reeker, United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and a number of senior U.S. officials; as well as with Philippe Le Houerou, Vice President of the World Bank for Europe and Central Asia Region. Secretary General Biscevic informed in detail about RCC activities and implementation ...


06 Jul 2011
Serbian President Tadic gives full support to RCC activities in promoting regional cooperation in South East Europe press release

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. The two officials discussed joint activities following the last week’s Serbian takeover of the Chairmanship-in-Office ...


05 Jul 2011
RCC Secretariat briefs diplomatic community in Sarajevo on implementation of its work strategy and results of 3rd Annual Meeting news

The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presented today the first results of implementation of the organization’s Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013 to the diplomatic community in Sarajevo. The briefing follows last week’s RCC Annual Meeting and related South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) events in Budva, Montenegro. RCC Secretary General recalled a series of ...


30 Jun 2011
Heads of State and Government of South East Europe praise work of Regional Cooperation Council press release

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. “We paid particular attention to the results achieved by the RCC in the implementation of the Strategy ...


30 Jun 2011
Declaration of the 14th meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) declaration/decision

The document has been adopted on 30 June 2011 in Budva, Montenegro.


29 Jun 2011
South East European foreign ministers voice support to RCC activities, endorse its Annual Report press release

  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. They extended full support to the implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013 and endorsed the organization’s Annual Report ...


28 Jun 2011
Regional cooperation in South East Europe encouraging, says RCC Secretary General at the organization’s Annual Meeting press release

  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. “The new spirit of cooperation, reconciliation, moderation and pragmatism ...


28 Jun 2011
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council on regional co-operation in South East Europe in 2010-2011 report

The report, endorsed by the participants of the RCC Annual Meeting, on 28 June 2011 in Becici, Montenegro, covers the period May 2010-May 2011.


28 Jun 2011
Address by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, at the RCC Annual Meeting speech

The third RCC Annual Meeting was held on 28 June 2011, in Becici, Montenegro.


25 Jun 2011
Interview by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, to Montenegrin daily Pobjeda interview

In the interview, given prior to the third RCC Annual Meeting, which was held on 28 June 2011 in Becici, Montenegro, the RCC Secretary General speaks about the organisation’s past activities and future challenges.


24 Jun 2011
Annual Meeting of Regional Cooperation Council to be held in Budva, Montenegro press release

BUDVA/SARAJEVO – The third Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), will take place in the Montenegrin town of Becici near Budva, on 28 June 2011. It will be co-organized by the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Chairmanship-in-Office of Montenegro and the RCC Secretariat, and co-chaired by Milan Rocen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Montenegro, ...


21 Jun 2011
RCC Secretary General takes part in EU-Western Balkans ministerial meeting news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), took part in the ministerial meeting EU-Western Balkans: Western Balkans Forum, held in Luxembourg yesterday. Ahead of the next week’s RCC Annual Meeting, as well as ministerial and summit meetings of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Secretary General Biscevic gave an overview of the state of cooperation ...


15 Jun 2011
RCC role in Parliamentary Dimension of South-East European Cooperation Process important, Speakers of Parliament say news

The role of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in the context of the Parliamentary Dimension of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) was recognized as important by the participants of the 9th Conference of the SEECP Speakers of Parliament, which took place in Becici, Montenegro, on 13-15 June 2011. In her address to the event, Deputy RCC Secretary General Jelica Minic highlighted ...


25 May 2011
RCC Secretary General and European Commission Director discuss transport priorities in South East Europe news

Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), met today with Marjeta Jager, Director for General Policy at the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) of the European Commission, to discuss transport sector priorities in South East Europe. “It is necessary to translate current political spirit of cooperation in South East Europe into concrete projects, ...


12 May 2011
Quarterly report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic report

The report covers the period from 9 March 2011 to 9 May 2011, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


12 May 2011
RCC Board reviews progress in implementation of organization's 2011-2013 strategy news

The second meeting of the Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in 2011, held in Sarajevo today, reviewed work of the RCC Secretariat over the past two months and discussed its future activities. RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic presented a report on the activities of the organization’s Secretariat for the period 9 March-9 May 2011. “Over this period, South East Europe was ...


14 Apr 2011
Address by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting speech

The Permanent Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), was held in Vienna, on 14 April 2011. The document containing RCC Secretary General’s address also includes links to available responses by the missions to OSCE.


09 Apr 2011
About Us page

RCC Vision RCC helps prosperity and growth through regional action in SEE, while advancing European and Euro-Atlantic integration. We see our region as a prosperous place of dialogue, freedom and mobility, rich in cultural heritage, where each person feels safe and protected by the rule of law. RCC History The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was officially launched at the meeting of the ...


03 Apr 2011
Article by New Europe weekly featuring Regional Cooperation Council’s activities article

The article reports on the conference ‘Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth’, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat on 30-31 March in Brussels.


24 Mar 2011
RCC-organized conference on Western Balkans and Europe 2020 to discuss growth in the region, gather close to 50 institutions and donors press release

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. The conference compliments goals of the European Union’s Europe 2020 strategy for smart, ...


18 Mar 2011
Regional Strategic Document on Justice and Home Affairs 2011-2013 and the Action Plan for its implementation report

The Strategic Document was endorsed by the Ministers in Budva, Montenegro, on 18 March 2011.


17 Mar 2011
South East European ministers to endorse regional strategy on justice and home affairs, prepared under RCC auspices press release

BUDVA/SARAJEVO, 17 March 2011 – A two-day conference of ministers of justice and interior of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is expected to endorse the Regional Strategic Document on Justice and Home Affairs 2011-2013 developed by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders from the region, commenced in Budva today. The Strategic Document ...


17 Mar 2011
Address by the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the regional conference of ministers of justice and ministers of interior from South East Europe speech

The SEECP ministerial conference ‘Strengthening Co-operation in Fight against Organized Crime in South East Europe’ was held in Budva, Montenegro on 16-18 March 2011.


15 Mar 2011
Address by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the meeting of defense ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process speech

The meeting of the defense ministers of the South-East European Cooperation Process was held in Budva, Montenegro on 14-15 March 2011.


15 Mar 2011
South East European defense ministers stress RCC’s importance in regional cooperation news

In a Joint Statement adopted in Budva today, Ministers of Defense of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) stressed the importance of defense and security cooperation in fostering general stability and development in the region. The Ministers underlined that in a rapidly changing security environment, where new challenges arise – from current economic crisis to natural disaster ...


08 Mar 2011
Quarterly report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic report

The report covers the period from 4 December 2010 to 4 March 2011, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


08 Mar 2011
Regional Cooperation Council Board holds its first meeting in 2011 in Sarajevo today news

The Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) met in Sarajevo today to review the activities of the organization over the past three months and provide guidance for the period ahead. “Balanced regional development and all-inclusiveness is a prerequisite for stability and prosperity of South East Europe”, said RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic, while presenting a report on the activities ...


07 Mar 2011
Welcoming speech by the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at a panel discussion ‘South East Europe in 2011 and Beyond: Sharing the Same Vision’ speech

The panel discussion was held in Sarajevo, BiH, on 7 March 2011, to mark the third anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council.


04 Mar 2011
Prospects for regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2011 and beyond focus of the 3rd RCC anniversary celebration press release

SARAJEVO, 4 March 2011 – 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). The panellists will include Hido Biscevic, RCC Secretary General; Andris Kesteris, Principal Advisor, Directorate General for Enlargement, European Commission; Jasminka Kronja, ...


28 Jan 2011
Montenegrin Foreign Minister, RCC Secretary General sign protocol on hosting regional task force on culture and society press release

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. The Task Force Secretariat will be based in Cetinje, Montenegro. It ...


28 Jan 2011
Address by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Hido Biscevic, at the informal meeting of the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs speech

The informal meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Ministers of Foreign Affairs took place on 28 January 2011, in Becici/Budva, Montenegro


27 Jan 2011
Talking points of Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Hido Biscevic, at the meeting of the SEECP Political Directors speech

The meeting of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Political Directors took place on 27 January 2011, in Becici/Budva, Montenegro


03 Jan 2011
Article by Hido Biščević, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, for New Europe weekly article

In the article, Secretary General writes about regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2010.


16 Dec 2010
RCC Secretary General and EU Commissioner for Regional Policy discuss cooperation news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, met in Brussels yesterday with EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, and exchanged views on RCC activities related to implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.   The two officials also discussed possible cooperation between the RCC and the European Commission regarding implementation ...


13 Dec 2010
RCC Secretary General, EU Enlargement Director General agree 2010 successful for regional cooperation news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, met in Brussels today with the European Commission's Director General for Enlargement, Michael Leigh, to discuss preparations for implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, and evaluate the progress made thus far. The two officials agreed that 2010 has been a successful year for regional ...


10 Dec 2010
RCC Secretary General meets EU Commissioner for Enlargement news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, met in Brussels yesterday with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fuele, to discuss regional cooperation in South East Europe. The two officials welcomed the progress made in improving the political climate in the region and expressed expectations that the enlargement countries from Western ...


02 Dec 2010
Quarterly report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic report

The report covers the period from 11 September to 26 November 2010, and reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013.


02 Dec 2010
Regional Cooperation Council Board meets in Sarajevo today news

The 28-member Board of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) heard in Sarajevo today a report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic on the activities of the organization’s Secretariat since September 2010 and the information on the work planned for the next three months. The report reflects progress in implementation of the RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013 endorsed by the RCC ...


29 Nov 2010
RCC Secretary General meets officials of upcoming Hungarian EU Presidency news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, held a series of meetings in Budapest today with officials of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the context of Hungary’s takeover of the Presidency of the European Union (EU) on 1 January 2011. The RCC Secretary General met with Parliamentary State Secretary Zsolt Nemeth, Deputy State Secretaries Peter ...


15 Nov 2010
RCC Secretary General meets Slovenian Foreign Minister over cooperation in South East Europe news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, met today with Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar and Ambassador Mitja Strukelj, National Coordinator for the Western Balkans, to discuss political situation and regional cooperation in South East Europe. Secretary General Biscevic congratulated Minister Zbogar on Slovenia joining, as of June this year, the South-East ...


06 Oct 2010
RCC Secretary General discusses regional cooperation with Bulgarian officials news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, held consultations in Sofia today with Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy and Transport, Milen Ljutzkanov, Mario Kosev and Ivaylo Moskovski, respectively, as well as Ambassador at Large for Energy Security and Climate Change, Peter Poptchev. Secretary General Biscevic informed his Bulgarian counterparts of ...


15 Sep 2010
RCC Secretary General to outline the organization’s new three-year strategy at a press conference in Sarajevo tomorrow press release

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. Secretary General Biscevic will be accompanied by his Deputy and Head of the RCC Expert Pool, Jelica Minic, as well as the organization’s ...


29 Jul 2010
Representatives of RCC Secretariat and Montenegrin SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office meet in Sarajevo news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, held today in Sarajevo consultations with Montenegrin Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nebojsa Kaludjerovic, representing the rotating Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) taken over by Montenegro at the SEECP Summit in Istanbul in June 2010.  The meeting focused on ...


14 Jul 2010
RCC Secretary General presents the organization’s new strategy at COWEB Capitals meeting news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic presented today to the COWEB Capitals meeting in Brussels the organization’s Strategy and Work Programme 2011-13, adopted last month, and received support to the organization’s work by the participants. Secretary General Biscevic highlighted that, in the implementation of the RCC mandate and the new three-year Strategy, it is necessary to take maximum ...


30 Jun 2010
RCC Secretary General discusses energy and transport projects with Albanian officials news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Hido Biscevic met in Tirana today with top Albanian officials to discuss concrete regional projects, primarily in the energy and transport sectors. The readiness of the Albanian government and relevant ministries to engage in the design and implementation of such projects was stressed at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ...


29 Jun 2010
RCC Secretary General discusses regional cooperation in Pristina news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic visited Pristina today to discuss development opportunities in the context of regional cooperation in South East Europe. Secretary General Biscevic met the Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Lamberto Zannier; Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo, Hajredin Kuci; Special Representative of the European Union (EUSR) in Kosovo, Peter ...


23 Jun 2010
South East European heads of state give full support to the Regional Cooperation Council, approve appointment of its Secretary General press release

ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The Heads of State and Government of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) expressed today at the summit meeting in Istanbul their appreciation for the work of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in transforming the current advanced regional cooperation to a new level, focusing on concrete and targeted projects aimed at regional recovery and economic development. ...


22 Jun 2010
South East European foreign ministers re-appoint Hido Biscevic as Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council press release

ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The ministers of foreign affairs of the states participating in the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) re-appointed Hido Biscevic as the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at their meeting in Istanbul today. The re-appointment is for the period until 31 December 2012. “It has been a privilege to serve the interests of South East ...


22 Jun 2010
Annual Meeting endorses new RCC strategy, annual report and nomination of Secretary General press release

ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), held in Istanbul today, endorsed the organization’s 2011-2013 Strategy and Work Programme, and the Annual Report of its Secretary General for the past year’s activities. The RCC members also endorsed the nomination proposal for the appointment of the Secretary General for a two-year period (2011-2012). At the ...


12 Jun 2010
RCC Secretary General and EU Enlargement Commissioner discuss EU policy towards South East Europe news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fuele, agreed at their meeting in Brussels yesterday that the last week’s high level EU-Western Balkans meeting and recent activities of political leaders from South East Europe affirmed the EU perspective of all the countries of the region and ...


07 Jun 2010
RCC Secretary General takes part in the 8th conference of SEECP speakers of parliament news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, participated today in the 8th meeting of speakers of parliament of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) participating states, held in Antalya. The event was organized by the Republic of Turkey, which holds the rotating SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office. “At this crucial point in time regional cooperation ...


02 Jun 2010
RCC Secretary General hails messages of EU-Western Balkans meeting in Sarajevo, and new era of regional relations press release

SARAJEVO – “The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) strongly supports political meetings, statements and decisions that lead to a new era of relations in South East Europe, based on trust, dialogue and tolerance”, said RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at today’s high level EU-Western Balkans meeting in Sarajevo, organized by the Spanish Presidency with the support of the EU. Biscevic ...


18 May 2010
RCC Board finalizes discussions on the organization’s three-year strategy news

Members of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board supported in Sarajevo today the concept of the 2011-2013 strategy and work programme of the organization, and agreed to finalize it in time for the approval by the RCC Annual Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22 June. The new strategy will define RCC activities over the next three years, based on the region’s needs, and focusing on projects ...


29 Apr 2010
Biscevic, Djelic agree on the importance of regional projects as a developement stimulus news

“The main goal of the series of visits to the RCC members from South East Europe, I have undertook, is pinpointing the national projects that could be implemented on a regional level, thus creating a climate for invigorated economic development of the region as a whole,” said Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the meeting with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister ...


29 Apr 2010
Secretary General with PM Gruevski: Cooperation on joint projects a way to accelerated development news

As part of visits to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) members from South East Europe (SEE), the Secretary General Hido Biscevic met yesterday in Skopje with the Prime Minister of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Gruevski, and informed him on the finalization of the Strategy and Work Programme of the organization for the 2011-2013 period.  Biscevic emphasized that, following ...


27 Apr 2010
RCC national coordinators from South East Europe discuss new strategy of the organization news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) national coordinators from South East Europe met today to discuss the draft organization’s strategy for 2011-2013, with the aim of its finalization and subsequent approval by the RCC Board on 18 May 2010. The participants of the meeting presented their detailed views, comments and suggestions on the draft strategy, as well as provided guidance to the RCC ...


14 Apr 2010
Regional Cooperation Council launches redesigned website and new publication, a monthly newsletter press release

SARAJEVO, 14 April 2010 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat launched today a redesigned version of the organization’s website and a new publication, the monthly e-newsletter. The new website features enable users to customize the content while maintaining the simplicity of design, which is meant to provide even easier browsing through the content. They also allow subscription ...


09 Apr 2010
RCC Secretary General joins experts in addressing economic crisis in South East Europe news

Hido Biščević, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), took part in a conference of ministers of economy and finance of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is being held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 8-10 April 2010. The event, which also gathered governors of central banks in the region, was organized by the Turkish SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office in order ...


08 Apr 2010
RCC Secretary General holds talks with Turkish officials news

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biščević, met today with Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, and Ambassador Şanıvar Olgun, Turkish RCC National Coordinator, to discuss future activities of the organization. Secretary General Biščević informed his Turkish counterparts of the new strategy for the ...


31 Mar 2010
RCC hosts preparatory meeting for the Conference of SEECP Speakers of Parliament news

A two-day preparatory meeting for the 8th Conference of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Speakers of Parliament ended in Sarajevo today with the participants agreeing on the outline programme and discussing the main aspects of the final declaration of the Conference. The event, hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and co-organized with the Grand National ...


30 Mar 2010
RCC Secretary General, officials of the Republic of Moldova discuss joint activities news

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Hido Biscevic met today with high-level officials of the Republic of Moldova to outline the organization’s priorities in the next three years and the ways the Republic of Moldova can take best advantage of regional cooperation in South East Europe. At a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, ...


09 Mar 2010
Future RCC role in focus of talks between the organization’s Secretary General and EC Director General for Enlargement news

Future role of the RCC and its Strategic Work Programme for 2011-2013 was in focus of a meeting between RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic and Director General for Enlargement in the European Commission Michael Leigh, held in Brussels today. Director General Leigh positively assessed the work of the RCC and its Secretariat, and supported the current draft of the RCC strategy for the next three ...


04 Mar 2010
RCC Board starts discussing the organization's strategy for the next three years press release

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. “The new RCC strategy will outline, in a clear and focused manner, envisaged directions of RCC activities until 2013, on the basis of the region’s needs, added value of specific projects and cooperation within ...


26 Feb 2010
RCC Secretary General and Montenegrin Prime Minister discuss cooperation news

The RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, and the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, discussed in Podgorica today political developments in South East Europe (SEE) and importance of the SEE countries’ steady progress towards EU integration. Secretary General Biscevic informed Prime Minister Djukanovic of the new strategy for the 2011-13 activities of the RCC Secretariat that is currently ...


23 Feb 2010
International conference on overcoming economic crisis in Western Balkans to mark 2nd RCC anniversary press release

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. This international conference will review the impact on the Western Balkan countries of ...


17 Feb 2010
RCC Secretary General holds talks with Chairman of BiH Council of Ministers news

The RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, met today with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikola Spiric, and informed him of the new phase of RCC activities following the initial period of the organization’s profiling as the key driver of regional cooperation in South East Europe (SEE). Secretary General Biscevic stressed the potential for the region’s development ...


09 Dec 2009
Reforms, confirmed European perspective and development cooperation set base for advancement of South East Europe, says RCC head at Western Balkans conference in Brussels press release

BRUSSELS – “The EU enlargement process must continue to be based upon the principle of fulfilment of accession criteria, on one hand, and on full confirmation of the European perspective for all countries of South East Europe, on the other“, said Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at a high-level conference on the Western Balkans, held in Brussels today. The ...


07 Dec 2009
High-level Western Balkans conference to be held in Brussels on Wednesday, under EU auspices and with RCC support press release

SARAJEVO/BRUSSELS – A conference on the Western Balkans “Overcoming the economic crisis – from regional cooperation to EU membership” will take place in Brussels, on Wednesday, 9 December. The event will be organized by the Swedish EU Presidency and the European Commission, in cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The conference will focus on the financial and economic ...


03 Dec 2009
RCC Board discusses future strategic focuses of organization's activities and supports efforts of its Secretariat in Sarajevo press release

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. At the last Board meeting this year, the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic submitted a report on the activities of the RCC Secretariat in the September-December period, ...


03 Dec 2009
List of 2009 Activities of the RCC Secretariat information material


13 Nov 2009
RCC Secretary General takes part in a summit of Heads of Government of the Central European Initiative news

The RCC Secretary General, Hido Biščević, participated in a meeting of Heads of Government of the Member States of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Bucharest today. Secretary General Biščević extended his congratulations on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of successful cooperation and achievements of the Central European Initiative. He further stressed the excellent cooperation ...


09 Oct 2009
RCC Secretary General takes part in informal meeting of South East European Foreign Ministers in Istanbul news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biščević participated in Istanbul in the first informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) under the Turkish SEECP Chairmanship. Secretary General Biščević drew attention of the ministers to the fact that, in light of the current economic and political situation in South East Europe, the countries ...


17 Sep 2009
First meeting of prominent experts from South East Europe on regional response to economic crisis takes place in Sarajevo under RCC auspices press release

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. “The projects and ideas from this panel will be presented to the RCC members from SEE for review and ...


15 Sep 2009
RCC Board discusses situation in South East Europe and praises work of the organization’s Secretariat in Sarajevo press release

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. Secretary General Biscevic received full support of the RCC Board to the Secretariat's ...


03 Sep 2009
Senior Greek officials commend work of RCC and its Secretary General news

The RCC Secretary General, Hido Biščević, held talks in Greece today with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yannis Valinakis, and the Ministry's Secretary General for European Affairs, Dimitrios Katsoudas. The officials discussed political developments in South East Europe and challenges in this respect. RCC Secretary General Biscevic informed his Greek counterparts of the implementation of ...


10 Jul 2009
Address by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at The Croatia Summit 2009 speech

Description: The theme of the Croatia Summit 2009, held in Dubrovnik, was “Europe’s Strategic Imperative: Energy, Investment and Development”.


23 Jun 2009
RCC Secretariat presents its mission, priorities and activities to European and Euro-Atlantic institutions in Brussels press release

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Experts of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat presented today the mission, priorities and activities of the organization to representatives of European and Euro-Atlantic institutions active in Brussels. The event took place in the premises of the RCC Secretariat’s Liaison Office. The presentation's aim was to bring the RCC work closer to a wider circle of ...


05 Jun 2009
Good neighbourly accommodations and development cooperation essential for progress in South East Europe, said RCC Secretary General at the Summit of regional leaders press release

CHISINAU/SARAJEVO – “Good neighbourly accommodations are essential for moving South East Europe (SEE) forward at the time of challenging regional agenda and the adverse effects of the current economic and financial crisis“, said Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the meeting of the SEE Heads of State and Government, held in Chisinau today. The Summit ...


04 Jun 2009
First RCC Annual Meeting endorses Secretary General’s Annual Report and Strategic Work Programme of the organization press release

CHISINAU/SARAJEVO – The first Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), held in Chisinau today, endorsed the RCC Secretary General’s Annual Report on regional co-operation in SEE and the 2009-2010 Strategic Work Programme of the organization. The Meeting, co-hosted by the Moldovan Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO) of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), discussed ...


19 May 2009
RCC Secretary General meets EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy news

During a visit to Sarajevo today, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, met with the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, to reiterate EU support to RCC activities. High Representative Solana highlighted the importance of RCC work at this moment in time, when the region of South East Europe needs to take decisive steps in democratic reforms and towards ...


04 May 2009
Regional cooperation key to any progress of South East Europe, Croatian President says at RCC in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – “Regional cooperation is key to any significant advancement of South East Europe (SEE), and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) plays an indispensible role in making this progress happen”, President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, said at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo today. President Mesic made his remark during a visit to the RCC Secretariat, where he expressed ...


03 May 2009
Croatian President to visit Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic, will tomorrow pay a visit to the Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo, to highlight support to the organization and the importance Croatia attributes to regional cooperation. President Mesic’s visit will be an opportunity to learn more about Croatia’s current and future contribution to strengthening ...


14 Apr 2009
RCC Secretary General holds consultations with Czech EU Presidency and delivers lecture at Prague Institute for International Relations news

Within regular consultations with the EU Presidency, the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, met today with the First Czech Deputy Foreign Minister, Tomas Pojar, to discuss current situation in South East Europe (SEE) and cooperation between the RCC and the Presidency. The two officials spoke about preparations by the RCC Secretariat and the Moldovan Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European ...


08 Apr 2009
RCC work tremendously important for the region and Europe, Czech, French and Swedish Foreign Ministers say in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO, 8 April 2009 – “The work of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat is tremendously important for the countries of the region and for all of Europe”, said Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Carl Bildt, at the RCC Secretariat’s premises in Sarajevo today. Minister Bildt’s words echoed also the views of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic ...


25 Mar 2009
RCC Secretary General holds consultations with 2010 Spanish EU presidency news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic met in Madrid today with the Secretary of State for Europe at the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diego López Garrido, and other high-level officials of the Ministry, for consultations on RCC activities and the role of Spain as a future EU presidency holder. Secretary General Biscevic outlined the RCC activities in the priority areas of economic and ...


10 Mar 2009
Address by Minister of State at German Foreign Office, Gernot Erler, delivered at RCC Secretariat speech

Lecture by the Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, Gernot Erler, on regional cooperation, stability and way to the EU, held on 10 March 2009 at the premises of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo.


19 Feb 2009
RCC National Coordinators from South East Europe meet in Sarajevo news

National Coordinators from RCC members from South East Europe (SEE) held their first meeting in 2009 in Sarajevo today, to discuss the most recent RCC activities. The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic informed the Coordinators about his contacts with the EU and the European Commission in particular, in light of the current economic and financial situation and implications for SEE. The need for ...


18 Feb 2009
Swedish Foreign Minister says RCC role of utmost importance for South East Europe press release

STOCKHOLM/SARAJEVO – The role of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is of utmost importance for cooperation in South East Europe (SEE) and completion of the region’s EU integration processes, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at a meeting in Stockholm yesterday. Secretary General Biscevic stressed the importance of keeping EU focus on the Western ...


04 Feb 2009
RCC Secretary General meets Chair of BiH Council of Ministers over investment initiative news

The RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, met today the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikola Spiric, to discuss investment possibilities in South East Europe. Chairman Spiric presented an initiative to establish the South East European Investment Bank, which would focus on increasing competitiveness in the region through financing specific regional projects in ...


05 Dec 2008
RCC Secretary General takes part in 16th OSCE Ministerial Meeting news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic participated at the 16th Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that took place in Helsinki on 4-5 December 2008. He informed the meeting participants of RCC priorities, structure of the RCC Secretariat as well as ongoing projects of the organization, and proposed that the RCC and OSCE explore the ...


21 Nov 2008
RCC Secretary General discusses organization’s activities with Irish officials news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic received support of the Irish Government to the work of the RCC Secretariat at a consultative meeting held with representatives of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs on 20 November 2008. During the talks, Secretary General Biscevic expressed strongest interest of Southeast European countries in EU resolving its present institutional issues in order to ...


18 Nov 2008
RCC Secretary General holds consultations with UK officials news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic met today in London with the Director of the Western Balkans at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Daniel Fearn, and other FCO officials, for consultations regarding the activities of the RCC Secretariat. Mr Fearn expressed satisfaction with the RCC Secretariat’s work and underlined Great Britain’s full support to its continued efforts ...


07 Nov 2008
RCC National Coordinators from Southeast Europe meet in Sarajevo news

The RCC National Coordinators from Southeast Europe met in Sarajevo today to discuss the regional cooperation priorities and level of harmonization of national activities and strategies with the RCC Strategic Work Programme 2008-2009 as well as with the Multi-beneficiary IPA Programme 2008 priorities. The meeting participants received an update from the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic on the ...


23 Oct 2008
Montenegro signs SEECP charter on good neighborly relations news

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic signed today in Bucharest the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Charter on Good Neighborly Relations, Stability, Security and Cooperation in Souheastern Europe, thus fully formalizing Montenegro’s participation in the SEECP. The RCC is an operational arm of the SEECP. Its Secretariat supports the SEECP in the preparation and implementation ...


26 Sep 2008
RCC Board met in Sarajevo on 6 October news

The 29 members of the RCC Board met for the first time at the premises of the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo on 6 October 2008. The Board reviewed activities of the RCC Secretariat in the period May-October 2008, in light of the quarterly report of the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic, and discussed future activities and projects within the RCC framework. The RCC Board provides ...


27 Jul 2008
SEE Heads of Government meet in Salzburg news

The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic participated in the annual informal meeting of Heads of Government of Southeast European (SEE) countries organized by the Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer in Salzburg on 27 July 2008. The Prime Ministers from six SEE countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro and Serbia) ...


30 Jun 2008
RCC National Coordinators from SEE hold first meeting in Sarajevo news

The 30 June 2008 meeting at the premises of the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo assessed the level of harmonization of national activities and strategies with the 2008-2009 RCC Strategic Work Programme, and with the priorities of the 2008 Multi-beneficiary Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) Programme of the European Commission. The RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic and experts of the ...


17 Jun 2008
RCC Secretary General welcomes signing of Stabilization and Association Agreement between EU, Bosnia and Herzegovina press release

SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, welcomed the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Luxembourg yesterday. "This is a big step for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and for the region as a whole, as it increases the European integration potential of BiH and ...


21 May 2008
RCC Board adopts the organization’s 2008-2009 Strategic Work Programme news

On 20 May 2008 in Pomorie, Bulgaria, the RCC Board adopted a report by the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic on transformation of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe into the Regional Cooperation Council, as well as the RCC Strategic Work Programme for 2008-2009 and the appointments to the positions in the RCC Secretariat. The RCC strategy was also approved by the Ministers of Foreign ...


19 May 2008
Three-day SEECP summit events start in Pomorie, Bulgaria news

On 19 May 2008, the political directors of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) are meeting in Pomorie, Bulgaria, to prepare for the Ministerial and Summit meetings on 20 and 21 May. At the same time, on 20 May, the RCC Board is expected to adopt a report by the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic on transformation of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe into the Regional ...


27 Feb 2008
Declaration on RCC establishment, its participants, and Statute declaration/decision

Annex I and Annex II amended by the RCC Board on 28 February 2013


11 May 2007
Zagreb Final Act on SEECP enhancement declaration/decision


11 May 2007
SEECP procedures and mechanisms meeting document