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04 May 2023
European Union launches the third phase of its Roma Integration programme in partnership with the Council of Europe news

The European Union is launching the third phase of the Roma Integration programme in partnership with the Council of Europe. It will contribute to the socio-economic integration of the Roma population in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. The programme will work with the governments in the region to increase their capacities to tackle challenges faced by Roma in the fields of housing, education, ...


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer 2022 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

BALKAN BAROMETER is an annual survey of public opinion and business sentiments in six Western Balkans economies, commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), which examines aspirations and expectations on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends & regional and European integration. BALKAN BAROMETER’S 2022 infographics booklet features some of the defining thoughts ...


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion 2022 survey

2022 edition of the Balkan Barometer- the annual survey of Western Balkan business perceptions. It provides insights into trends and evolution of the attitudes of region’s businesses across socio-economic-environmental topics affecting their everyday lives and business. Balkan Barometer Business Opinion survey presented 177 questions to 1203 business owners, managers, or executives in the period ...


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer Public Opinion 2022 survey

Balkan Barometer Public opinion 2022 is 8th edition of RCC's survey of Western Balkan citizens perceptions. The analysis of the results provides a detailed insight into trends and evolution of the attitudes of thousands of region’s citizens and businesses across socio-economic-environmental topics affecting their everyday lives. Since the first edition in 2015 the Balkan Barometer became firmly ...


24 Jun 2022
Bregu: Support of Western Balkan citizens to regional cooperation remains stable at 76% news

RCC presents 2022 editions of Balkan Barometer and SecuriMeter  Brussels – “While many things change, our public and business perceptions surveys remain a truthful source of sentiments across the region. At times, the results surprise us, sometimes they serve as a wake-up call, while on other occasions they confirm that our efforts are not in vain as citizens and businesses ...


09 Jun 2022
REGIONAL RESPONSE IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY: RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2023–2025 report

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 economic ...


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 ...


08 Apr 2022
Regional Cooperation Council and Roma Integration project Celebrate International Roma Day news

Roma are an example for all of us in how to maintain our freedom while moving forward Belgrade – 8 of April is International Roma Day, a time to celebrate the culture, heritage, and accomplishments of Roma. The journey of Roma is one marked by injustice, but it is also a story of happiness, pride and satisfaction. Despite the challenges they face, Roma continue to move forward and develop ...


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 ...


11 Mar 2022
Bregu: When women engage, take responsibilities, grow and help each other they can be a rising tide that lifts all boats news

Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2021 are: Blerina Ago, Aida Zubcevic, Valentina Taseva, Dragana Calija, Pakize Pajazitaj, and Arta Shehu Zaimi Tirana – “The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching today the first Regional Women in Entrepreneurship Network in the Western Balkans. We will not boil the sea right away. But sometimes the smallest act can lead to ...


01 Mar 2022
USEIN FOR BiH'S NEWPIPE: "UNEMPLOYMENT AND LACK OF DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS ARE STILL MAJOR ISSUES FOR ROMA IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA" interview

Orhan Usein, Head of Office of RCC's Roma Integration project spoke to BiH's portal Newpipe on Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Working in the informal economy is still a major issue. According to estimates, the formal employment rate for Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina stands at only between 11 and 13 per cent. Another estimate states that 63% of all Roma workers are not registered and are working ...


14 Feb 2022
Interview with Orhan Usein for 360 Stepeni: "We all pay the price for Roma exclusion" interview

"Antigypsyism and discrimination for Roma start from an early age, when Roma kids are enrolled in school and often put into special or segregated schools or classes. And it is happening in the entire region, and wider. In the 21 century, in the middle of democratic societies, in Europe, we are dividing kids based on their ethnicity – isn’t that disturbing? It continues with forced evictions of ...


13 Dec 2021
Hate speech spreading faster from social media, Orhan Usein urges governments to combat antigypsyism interview

On the occasion of marking the International Day of Human Rights, marked on 10 December, Euronews Albania spoke with Mr Orhan Usein, Head of Office of the Regional Cooperation Council’s Roma Integration Project


13 Dec 2021
Usein: The school dropout rate of Roma children increased by 11%, while every second Roma reported reduced income due to the impact of Covid-19 news

RCC’s Roma Integration Project hosts the regional conference on Impact of Covid-19 on Roma in the Western Balkans  Belgrade (13/12/2021) – “The regional analyses on the impact of Covid-19 on Roma in the region confirmed that the highest (negative) consequences for Roma are detected in the areas of employment and education. Three out of four Roma children did not receive ...


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. ...


28 Jun 2021
Bregu: Discrimination against Roma remains very high, and we have to take actions to reduce and prevent it news

Sarajevo hosts Second Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration: Roma should be included in the Green and Digital Agendas  Sarajevo – “According to the Balkan Barometer 2021, around 40% of the businesses in the Western Balkans are still reluctant to hire Roma even when they meet the criteria. 63% of Western Balkan citizens do not want their children to share the classroom with Roma ...


24 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer 2021 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

BALKAN BAROMETER is an annual survey of public opinion and business sentiments in six Western Balkans economies, commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), which examines aspirations and expectations on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends & regional and European integration. BALKAN BAROMETER’S 2021 infographics booklet features some of the defining thoughts ...


24 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public Opinion survey

Balkan Barometer 2021 - this is the 7th edition of annual public and business opinion survey commissioned by the RCC which examines Western Balkan citizens and businesses perceptions and expectations towards a variety of thematic areas, such as the EU integration and regional cooperation, digitalisation, green recovery, employment, and for the second year in a row it includes topics concerning a challenging ...


24 Jun 2021
RCC Secretary General Introductory remarks on the occasion of the launch of Balkan Barometer 2021 speech

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu opened the presentation of the 7th edition of RCC's Balkan Barometer. Balkan Barometer is an annual public and business opinion survey commissioned by the RCC examining Western Balkan citizens and businesses perceptions and expectations towards a variety of thematic areas, such as the EU integration and regional cooperation, digitalisation, green recovery, employment, ...


24 Jun 2021
Bregu: Balkan Barometer reveals human uncertainty and vulnerability are main concerns followed by some goodish news on benefits of regional cooperation news

RCC presents 7th edition of Balkan Barometer, annual survey on people and business viewpoints  Tirana – “This, seventh in a row, Balkan Barometer shows human uncertainty and vulnerability are the main concerns followed by some goodish news which is the consciousness about the benefits of regional cooperation. For 49% of Western Balkan citizens, unemployment is the biggest problem, ...


23 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion survey

Balkan Barometer 2021 - this is the 7th edition of annual public and business opinion survey commissioned by the RCC which examines Western Balkan citizens and businesses perceptions and expectations towards a variety of thematic areas, such as the EU integration and regional cooperation, digitalisation, green recovery, employment, and for the second year in a row it includes topics concerning a challenging ...


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 ...


17 Jun 2021
Bregu: Voice, concerns, hopes & expectations of the people from the region are core of the RCC work news

SEECP Meeting of Foreign Ministers and the SEECP Summit held in Antalya Antalya – Leaders of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) approved the RCC-developed strategy for socio-economic development of South East Europe (SEE) in the next decade – SEE2030 Strategy, at their Summit held in Antalya, Turkey today.  “The SEE 2030 Strategy is a regional call ...


16 Jun 2021
South East Europe Strategy 2030 report

The SEE 2030 Strategy is a joint call for action by all 13 SEE economies. The Strategy seeks to promote and advance through regional cooperation the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals within the SEE region across the three dimensions of sustainable development: Prosperity; People; and Peace and Partnerships.


16 Jun 2021
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2020-2021 report

This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2020 – April 2021. 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. Annual Report of the Secretary ...


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. ...


08 Apr 2021
Message on the occasion of 8 April, the International Roma Day news

Today we mark one of the most important days for all Roma: the jubilee 50th Anniversary of the First World Romani Congress held back in 1971 in London.  This Congress became the foundation of the modern Romani movement, around which we united and from being passive became active. It took only a few days to make historic decisions regarding our language and culture, impacting lives of all ...


29 Mar 2021
Report on the Activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 October 2020 – 1 March 2021 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 October 2020 – 1 March 2021.


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 ...


14 Dec 2020
Orhan Usein, Head of Office of the RCC's Roma Integration project for Euro News Albania interview

"We still witness violations of human rights of the Roma population – police brutality, segregated schools and housing, discrimination within different public institutions, including health care providers, which is especially concerning at this time when the world is facing a pandemic. Are we talking about Roma inclusion if we build homes for them and put them all in one area? When talking about ...


10 Nov 2020
Bregu: Transformation will not happen overnight but setting bold goals will accelerate the change if we can work together news

Sofia - A new phase of regional economic integration started today with the Western Balkans Six leaders endorsing the Common Regional Market Action Plan, and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, both facilitated by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the Berlin Process Summit held online in Sofia today.    MORE INFO ON COMMON REGIONAL MARKET  “The Regional ...


27 Oct 2020
RCC SG speech at the Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration speech

Introductory remarks by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration, held in Tirana on 27 October 2020


27 Oct 2020
Bregu: Roma integration should not be a matter of empathy for a vulnerable group, but a matter of principle of treating equally all Western Balkans citizens news

Tirana hosts Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration: housing, civil registration, data collection & budgeting in focus Tirana – “Roma integration should not be a matter of empathy for a vulnerable group, but it’s a matter of principle of treating equally all the citizens in the Western Balkans. We are glad that our initiative to boost human capital development within Connectivity ...


25 Oct 2020
Tirana to host Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration: housing, civil registration, data collection & budgeting in focus news

Event will open Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, and RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu  Tirana - The Ministers responsible for integration of Roma in the Western Balkans economies will meet in Tirana on Tuesday to discuss the progress achieved in the first year of implementation of the Declaration on Roma Integration endorsed at the Poznan Summit last ...


24 Jul 2020
Orhan Usein: While one out of four young people in the region is in limbo, this is true for three out of four Roma interview

Croatian web portal Phralipen published an interview with Orhan Usein, Team Leader of the RCC's Roma Integration project. Usein spoke about achieved results, outcomes , goals and upcoming actvities the Declaration of Roma Integration, signed last year during the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan. Among other things, Usein also spoke about current situation of Roma in the Western Balkans, challenges ...


07 Jul 2020
It is our duty to fight discrimination wherever we see it, Article by Orhan Usein, Team Leader of Roma Integration 2020 project on the occasion of the first anniversary of Poznan Declaration interview

"The discrimination of minorities is a pandemic worse than the coronavirus, as it has managed to rule the world for a lot longer. As well as the virus, it mutates, takes on new forms, and finds many different ways to inhibit the population. Dehumanisation, degradation, segregation, humiliation – these are the experiences that Roma in Western Balkans face almost every day. Their rights have been ...


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 ...


24 Jun 2020
BALKAN BAROMETER 2020: BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY survey

Balkan Barometer 2020 - the 6th edition of the RCC of the annual business opinion survey commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council to gather and interpret data spanning a number of thematic areas and topics. The Barometer examines both the region’s perceptions of today, and its expectations for tomorrow, giving voice to the SEE’s business community as well as its citizens at large.


24 Jun 2020
RCC SG speech at the presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020 on 24 June 2020 speech

Introductory remarks by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu on the ocassion of Balkan Barometer 2020 launch held in a form of webinar on 24 June 2020


24 Jun 2020
Bregu: Cooperation is the only blueprint that holds the promise of ‘Stronger Together’ news

The Shape of the Things to Come - Presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020 Balkan Barometer 2020 reveals sentiments of citizens and businesses in the region, with a special addition conveying effects of the COVID-19 outbreak   Balkan Barometer 2020 presentation was going LIVE  Sarajevo – “The regional cooperation continues to grow in prominence with an overwhelming ...


23 Jun 2020
The Shape of the Things to Come - Presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020 news

Annual public and business opinion survey including COVID19 Impact Assessment Moderated by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General; and key guest speakers Olivér Várhelyi, EU Enlargement Commissioner; & Wolfgang Ischinger, Munich Security Conference Chairman Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will present 2020 edition of Balkan Barometer on Wednesday 24 June 2020. This ...


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 ...


08 Apr 2020
Roma, as all other citizens, are respecting the imposed measures, understanding that when one is in danger, the whole region is in danger news

Message from Orhan Usein, the RCC’s Roma Integration Project Team Leader to Roma and all citizens of the region on the occasion of 8 April, the International Roma Day With around 10 million people, Roma are the largest ethnic minority in Europe. 8 April, the International Roma day, celebrates Roma culture and history. It also teaches us all of the many issues Roma face. Belgrade/Sarajevo ...


12 Mar 2020
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 2019 – 1 March 2020.


13 Dec 2019
Housing is essential to one's sense of dignity, safety, and inclusion news

Belgrade - The RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project held its fourth Task Force meeting in Belgrade on 12 and 13 December 2019. The key stakeholders of the project reviewed the status of activities in the seven participating economies, discussed the status of implementation of the Declaration of the Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration and EU Enlargement (Poznan Declaration), while giving ...


06 Nov 2019
Roma housing situation: Better legalize than bulldoze! news

RCC Roma Integration Project’s methodology for mapping of Roma housing in the region agreed - pilot projects on the way Sarajevo – “I am pleased to announce that the new methodology we proposed for mapping of illegal settlements in which Roma live will be applied, as pilot projects, in two municipalities per each of the Western Balkans six (plus Turkey?) aiming to replicate it later across ...


10 Jul 2019
Treatment of Roma is an exam for us in the Western Balkans - are we fit for the EU? interview

Roma Integration – is the region ready for full integration of Roma population? Article ‘Treatment of Roma is an exam for us in the Western Balkans - are we fit for the EU?’ about the position of Roma in the EU enlargement region and joint integration endorsed by the region’s leaders at the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan on 5 July 2019 to improve their living conditions.


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
Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process declaration/decision

Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process was endorsed by the Western Balkans at the Leaders’ Summit, within the Western Balkans Summit of Berlin Process series in Poznan, Poland on 5 July 2019


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, ...


04 Jul 2019
BALKAN BAROMETER 2019 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

BALKAN BAROMETER is an annual survey of public opinion and business sentiments in six Western Balkans economies, commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), which examines aspirations and expectations on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends & regional and European integration. BALKAN BAROMETER’S 2019 infographics booklet features some of the defining thoughts ...


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 ...


05 Jun 2019
Funds should be invested where it is most needed news

Roma Integration Project works with the region on ensuring Roma responsive budgeting  The way regional budget programs are designed in their current financial systems, seem to be rigid and lack flexibility of intervention either to introduce a new product related directly to Roma budgeting, or to measure its efficiency.  In an effort to ensure that governmental budgets for 2020 would ...


08 Apr 2019
Marking the International Roma Day: Meet Roma and let them meet you! news

Sarajevo/Belgrade – Today is the day we celebrate Romani culture, history, language, heritage and experiences. But it is also an opportunity to continue voicing the necessity of improving the lives and welfare of Roma as equal citizens of our societies, which is the mission of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Project Roma Integration 2020. “Roma are the largest minority ...


05 Apr 2019
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project continues its work on improving the lives and welfare of Roma as equal citizens in EU Enlargement region news

RCC Secretary General and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister sign Memorandum of Understanding on hospitality to the RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project Belgrade – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu and Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Construction, Traffic and Infrastructure, Zorana Mihajlović, signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Belgrade ...


10 Dec 2018
More jobs and changed approach to employment of Roma community in the enlargement region necessary to combat poverty and social dependence news

Budapest - Regional conference on innovative approaches to employment of Roma, jointly organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s projects Roma Integration 2020 and Employment and Social Affairs Platform (EASP), and Roma Education Fund (REF) started in Budapest today.  “The statistical data show the urgent need to create opportunities for actual employment of Roma, while the ...


05 Dec 2018
Enlargement region governments expressed will to secure equal opportunities, development and non-discrimination of Roma community news

Skopje hosts the third RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 Task Force Meeting  Skopje – Governments of the EU enlargement region agreed to work on a Regional Declaration on Roma and EU enlargement at the Third Task Force meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) project, held in Skopje. They also agreed to continue and enhance efforts for full equality ...


08 Nov 2018
The work of the Regional Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting continues at its third meeting news

Rome – The Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting, comprising of the National Roma Contacts Points (NRCP) representatives of Ministries of Finances from the economies in the enlargement region, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration (RI2020) Action Team and independent budget experts, continued discussion on regional budgeting standards on ...


31 Oct 2018
Svilanovic: Romani women are the most vulnerable group and region desperately needs to ensure their economic independence news

Belgrade – The regional conference on economic situation of Romani women in the European Union enlargement region, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) in cooperation with the Government of Serbia and CARE International Balkans, has started in Belgrade today.   Opening the conference, Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Zorana Mihajlovic, ...


10 Oct 2018
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 at 2018 EU Platform on Roma Inclusion in Brussels news

Usein: Full social support package along with housing solution needed for sustainable integration of Roma in the region Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team prepared a set of recommendations intended to resolve the housing situation of Roma in a sustainable way and contribute to the progress of full realisation of the fundamental rights ...


03 Oct 2018
Second National Platform on Roma Integration held in Skopje news

Skopje – The second national platform on Roma Integration, gathering representatives of the government, civil society organizations, the Delegation of the European Union and relevant international organisations, to assess the Roma integration policy achievements made in 2017 and agree on priorities for 2018, met in Skopje today. The meeting was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s ...


28 Sep 2018
Third National Platform on Roma Integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina held in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo – The third National Platform on Roma Integration in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 in cooperation with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, was held in Sarajevo today. It gathered relevant officials from all levels of governance in charge of Roma integration and representatives of civil ...


21 Sep 2018
Pristina hosts third National Platform on Roma Integration news

Pristina - Under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020), the third National Platform on Roma Integration in Kosovo*, jointly organized by the RI2020 Action Team and the Office of the Prime Minister was held in Pristina today. The meeting discussed the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan for the Inclusion of Roma and Ashkali communities ...


06 Jul 2018
RCC’s Balkan Barometer 2018: Satisfaction of people and businesses on overall situation in the region is steadily improving news

Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) revealed results of 2018 edition of the Balkan Barometer (BB), an annual survey of citizens and business communities’ opinion on the situation in the region, in Brussels today. The main findings of the survey show that the satisfaction of people and businesses on the overall situation in the region, while still below average, is steadily improving. “Public ...


03 Jul 2018
Second Meeting of the Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting news

Bucharest – The second meeting of the Working Group for Developing Regional Standards for Roma Responsible Budgeting, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020), took place in Bucharest today.  The current state of budget analysis - main challenges and opportunities common for all economies in the enlargement region have been presented ...


03 Jul 2018
RCC to present SEE2020 strategy implementation results and its Balkan Barometer 2018 this week in Brussels news

Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the implementation results of the region’s growth strategy, South East Europe 2020 (SEE2020) on 5 July 2018 in Brussels, and day after, on 6 July also in Brussels, the RCC will reveal the results of its 4th edition of the public and business opinion survey – Balkan Barometer 2018. Both are an integral part of the RCC’s monitoring ...


26 Jun 2018
Usein: Data collection system to be improved for assessment of progress in integration of Roma news

RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 Belgrade – National Platform on Roma integration in Serbia, providing wide public dialogue with the relevant institutions and civil society and others concerned with the issue of Roma integration, at the same time ensuring transparency of the Roma related policy, participation in decision making and accountability of the implementing institutions towards the public, ...


11 Jun 2018
Second National Platform Meeting on Roma Integration in Albania held in Tirana news

Tirana - The second National Platform Meeting on Roma Integration, aimed at reviewing the status of implementation of National Action Plan for Integration of Roma and Egyptians in Albania for the period from 2016 to 2020, took place in Tirana today. The meeting was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI 2020) Action Team, in close cooperation with the Ministry ...


06 Jun 2018
Agenda of RCC's Roma Integration 2020 National Platform Meeting meeting document

Agenda of RCC's Roma Integration 2020 National Platform Meeting, on 11 June in Tirana


31 May 2018
Usein: Housing remains the most challenging issue for Roma integration in the region news

RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 Bar – A two day conference “Holistic Approach to Housing for Roma in the Enlargement Region”, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team, started in Bar today.  Orhan Usein, RCC’s RI 2020 Action Team Leader, opened the conference reminding the participants that the issue of housing is still the ...


30 May 2018
Third National Platform meeting on Roma Integration in Montenegro held in Podgorica news

Podgorica – The third National Platform meeting on Roma Integration in Montenegro for 2018, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team in close cooperation with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro, took place on 30 May in Podgorica.  On this occasion, Report on the Annual Implementation of Roma Integration Public ...


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.


08 Apr 2018
RCC and its RI2020 congratulate the International Roma Day news

Sarajevo, Belgrade – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Roma Integration 2020 Action Team congratulate the International Roma Day, being marked today .  8 April is dedicated to the celebration of Romani culture, history, heritage and experiences. It is also used to pursue dialogue and activism towards improving of the situation of Roma, closing the unacceptable gaps between Roma ...


13 Feb 2018
Discrimination against Roma and anti-Gypsyism in the enlargement region in the focus of the Berlin workshop news

RCC’s Turdiu: Formulating adequate policies to result in integration, rather than further exclusion, highly important Berlin – A two-day workshop addressing discrimination and anti-Gypsyism in the enlargement region, organized under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) project, opened in Berlin today. The main objective of the workshop, ...


10 Nov 2017
RCC: Coordinated and Efficient Spending in Roma Integration Policies Needed to Produce Tangible Results news

Tirana – The Regional Conference on Filling in the Budget Gaps in Roma Integration Policies, organized by the Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team, in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Albania, has started in Tirana today.    “The region needs coordinated and cooperative investments to cut down its social expenses. ...


09 Nov 2017
RCC: Tirana to host Regional Conference on Filling in the Budget Gaps in Roma Integration Policies news

Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team organizes a Conference on 10 November in Tirana, to address the needs and priorities in the Western Balkans and Turkey concerning filling in the budget gaps in Roma Integration Policies, with a specific focus on employment and housing for Roma.  The main objective of the Conference is to create ...


21 Sep 2017
Roma Integration 2020: Budgeting in the region to be improved to reflect measures for integration of Roma news

Belgrade - Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team (RI2020) is given the mandate to work with the governments on developing regional standards for budgeting Roma Integration policies and mainstream budgeting responsible to Roma integration, at the RI2020 Task Force meeting which ended in Belgrade today.  “In the past year and a half since the Project ...


23 May 2017
Tirana Hosts Public Dialogue Forum on Roma Integration news

Tirana – A two-day Public Dialogue Forum, discussing the implementation of the National Action Plan for Integration of Roma and Egyptians 2016-2020, opened in Tirana, Albania today. The Forum, focusing on the five main priorities - education, employment, social protection, housing and health with the respective achievements and challenges – has been organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s ...


31 Mar 2017
Serbian journalists in a visit to the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat news

Sarajevo – A group of 11 Serbian journalists and representatives of their Government’s Team for social inclusion and poverty reduction visited the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today, as a part of the thematic study tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina.   The RCC team welcomed the guest, presenting them organisation’s work, areas of activities, results and goals. ...


29 Mar 2017
RCC’s Roma Integration 2020 project at Roma week 2017 in Brussels news

Brussels – Orhan Usein, Leader of Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team presented the work and goals of the RI2020 working on Roma Integration issues in the Western Balkans and Turkey, within the Roma week 2017, taking place in Brussels. “It is nice to be a part of the second Roma week that allows us but also other governmental and civil ...


21 Mar 2017
Orhan Usein: Through policies and budgets governments begin to translate commitments to Roma into integration and equality news

Skopje/Sarajevo – A two-day regional workshop on budgeting for Roma integration policies, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 project (RI2020), took place in Skopje on 20-21 March 2017. The Workshop participants discussed public financing and budgeting allocations for Roma population in the Western Balkan economies. “Policies and budgets are ...


20 Mar 2017
Roma Integration 2020 information material

Brochure on RCC’ Project ‘Roma Integration 2020’, featuring goals, results, and actions to be undertaken in the forthcoming period. The Roma Integration 2020 project, implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) with the financial support of the European Union and the Open Society Foundations, aims to contribute to reducing the socio-economic gap between the Roma and non-Roma population ...


12 Dec 2016
Roma integration as conditionality of EU accession process news

Vienna/Sarajevo – The regional workshop on monitoring and reporting, organised by Roma Integration 2020 (RI2020) Action Team of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), started in Vienna today. It will provide the participants with the necessary skills for data collection, use of monitoring indicators and reporting on the Roma-relevant policies and programmes that are being implemented in Western ...


01 Dec 2016
Roma Integration 2020: The 2016 cycle of Public Dialogue Forums on Roma issues concludes in Podgorica news

Podgorica – The 2016 cycle of the Public Dialogue Forums on implementation and priority measures on Roma issues, that took place throughout the region in the past few months, concluded with the Forum in Podgorica today. The events have been organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team together with national authorities in Belgrade,Sarajevo, Skopje, Pristina ...


24 Nov 2016
Roma Integration 2020: Public Dialogue Forum on Roma issues in Skopje news

Skopje - Public Dialogue Forum on Roma Integration titled “Rules of Procedure of The National Coordination Body, The Roma Information Centres, and The Roma Health Mediators” began in Skopje. The two-day event is organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Roma Integration 2020 Action Team together with Mr Nezdet Mustafa, Minister without portfolio, National coordinator and National ...


21 Nov 2016
Roma Integration 2020: Public Dialogue Forum on Strategy and Action Plan for inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians news

Pristina - Under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Project Roma Integration 2020, the first Policy Dialogue Forum, jointly organized with the Office for Good Governance of the Office of the Prime Minister, was held in Pristina today. The Forum aimed at discussing the implementation of the Draft Strategy and Action Plan for the inclusion of Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian ...


07 Nov 2016
RCC: Bosnia and Herzegovina works on finalisation of the Action Plan on Roma for 2017-2020 at public dialogue forum in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo, 7 November 2016 – Bosnia and Herzegovina works on finalisation of the Action Plan on Roma for 2017-2020 at the public dialogue forum organised by the Roma Integration 2020 project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), held in Sarajevo today.   The Action Plan on Roma covers three priority ...


13 Oct 2016
RCC: Public dialogue forum on Roma Integration kicks off with public hearing at Serbian National Assembly news

The Roma Integration 2020 project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) presented its activities assisting the Government in the implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma 2016-2025 at the public hearing organised in cooperation with the Committee for Human and Minority Rights and Gender Equality of the Serbian National Assembly, in Belgrade today. Today’s public hearing ...


09 Jun 2016
"Before accession, countries will need to prove tangible progress on Roma inclusion" press release

Brussels, 9 June 2016 – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the European Commission (EC) jointly launched the “Roma Integration 2020” initiative today in Brussels. The event brought together Roma integration policy leaders from the Western Balkans and Turkey, civil society organisations from the region, as well as representatives of the EC, OSF and ...


08 Apr 2016
Svilanovic: International Roma Day excellent opportunity to recall extensive heritage of region’s largest ethnic minority news

Today, on the occasion of the International Roma Day, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Goran Svilanovic, extended his congratulations stressing that this is an excellent opportunity to recall rich and extensive heritage and diversity of the region’s largest ethnic minority - Roma[1]. “There are many challenges that Roma are often facing on daily basis, such as ...


11 Sep 2015
Roma Decade ends – Roma Integration 2020 picks up news

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, said that Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully completed its year of chairing the Roma Decade thus completing this process started 10 years go. Speaking in Sarajevo on Thursday, Svilanovic added that the RCC will, in the future, be responsible for Roma Integration 2020 when it comes to the Western Balkans and also Turkey. ...