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27 Mar 2023
RCC, EBRD, EIB organising Investing in Digitalisation in the Western Balkans Conference tomorrow in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Global are organising Investing in Digitalisation in the Western Balkans Conference, that is to take place on Tuesday, on 28 March 2023 in Sarajevo. New technologies and digital transformation are rapidly changing the world, including the Western ...


06 Dec 2022
Significant reduction of data roaming prices between Western Balkans and EU to start as of 1 October 2023 news

At the EU-Western Balkans Summit held in Tirana today, the telecommunications operators from the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans signed a Roaming Declaration enabling the reduction of the roaming charges between the EU and the Western Balkans as of 1 October 2023.  PRESS STATEMENT BY RCC SECRETARY GENERAL This is the start of the process aiming to achieve a substantial reduction ...


22 Oct 2022
Conclusions of the Western Balkans Digital Summit 2022 meeting document

After Western Balkans Digital Summit 2022 held in Pristina in September, Conclusions of the WB Digital Summit were created to showcase ambition to work jointly on improving digital transformation, democratic, economic and digital policy development, regional cooperation, and the commitment including roaming prices reduction with European Union.


01 Aug 2022
Feasibility study for identification of technical interoperability in Montenegro study

Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is working to support each Western Balkan (WB) economy in the implementation of the digital transformation as part of the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans. Through this report, the RCC is supporting Montenegro in the process of identification of technical interoperability in Montenegro. Further, the report contains a list of technical standards which can ...


27 May 2022
RCC Deputy Secretary General for EUPolis: Can the Western Balkans be an Example of a Green Transition? interview

Can the Western Balkans be an Example of a Green Transition? - interview by RCC Deputy Secretary General Tanja Miscevic published by EUPolis, on engagement of Western Balkans economies on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.


06 Oct 2021
Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans 2021-2030 declaration/decision

This Action Plan represents one of the outputs of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (GAWB) and is used as a tool to guide its implementation. It embodies the “putting words into actions” paradigm by identifying concrete steps and supporting organisations, as well as defining an indicative timeframe for each implementable measure. It sets the framework to coordinate ...


25 Jun 2021
Bregu: People want and need to be connected in many ways and Roaming Free region is one of the ways enabling it news

RCC organised Western Balkans ICT Ministerial meeting to mark beginning of Roaming-Free Western Balkans Podgorica – “People want and need to be connected in many ways and Roaming Free region is one of the ways enabling it. Looking back three years ago, when the Western Balkan Leaders decided to lower the roaming prices within the region, no one had thought that we would have region ...


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
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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


23 Feb 2021
Bregu: Roaming free Western Balkans as of 1 July 2021 brings the region one step closer to the WB-EU roaming charges reduction news

As of 1 July 2021 Western Balkans will be roaming free Sarajevo – “The signing of the Western Balkans Regional Roaming Agreement in April 2019 was a historic accomplishment and one of the key deliverables of the Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans, producing tangible benefits for citizens while testing our commitment and confidence in regional dialogue. I am confident the region ...


02 Nov 2020
RCC Secretary General speech at the Western Balkans Digital Summit 2020 Ministerial Meeting speech

Introductory remarks by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu on the occasion of the Western Balkans Digital Summit 2020 Ministerial Meeting, held in Tirana on 2 November 2020


02 Nov 2020
Bregu: While EU and the world are advancing to fit to the Digital Age, we need to run twice as fast to close the discrepancies news

Closing of the 3rd Western Balkans Digital Summit: WB 6 ministers sign memorandums of understanding on 5G roadmap for digital transformation and on regional interoperability and trust services in the region  Tirana/Sarajevo – “At the last years' Digital Summit in Belgrade we witnessed a success story when the ministers of the Western Balkans (WB) six in charge of information ...


26 Oct 2020
Bregu: We now pay between 83% and 96% less roaming charges in the entire Western Balkans, and as of July 2021 roaming costs will be 0 news

The 3rd Western Balkans Digital Summit opens in Tirana Tirana/Sarajevo – The Third Western Balkans Digital Summit (WBDS) has been opened in Tirana today, continuing its legacy, which started at the WBDS Skopje in 2018 – the first ever WB DS that initiated digital policy dialogue on WB digital transformation at the highest prime ministers level, followed by the DS in Belgrade in 2019 ...


23 Jul 2020
Report on the preparation of post-2020 Strategy in the Western Balkans report

The purpose of this report is to provide input into the development of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s South East Europe (SEE) 2030 Strategy for the Western Balkans (WB). It provides cross-analysis of findings from relevant post-2020 strategies of six Western Balkan economies. Moreover, it provides comparative analysis of linkages between strategic priorities of the Western Balkan economies ...


02 Jul 2020
1st Western Balkans Balkathon is ON: Apply and RCC will support best ideas for innovative digital solutions development with 10,000 EUR news

Smarten up for the future - RCC is organising the first regional online Balkathon seeking innovative solutions in Smart Tourism, Digital Learning Platform and Online Payments Solution Sarajevo - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising the first online Western Balkans’ Balkathon competition to trigger digital innovative and practical business solutions. The regional online Balkathon ...


01 Jul 2020
Bregu: Regional Roaming Agreement was a regional success story news

Regional Cooperation Council organizes Western Balkans ICT Ministerial Meeting: ‘Western Balkans fit for Digital Age’ Sarajevo/Tirana – “On this date a year ago we started paying less money for our phone bills, as the Regional Roaming Agreement entered into force reducing roaming costs across the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia ...


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
BALKAN BAROMETER 2020: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY survey

Balkan Barometer 2020 - the 6th edition of the annual public opinion survey commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council to gather and interpret data spanning a number of thematic areas and topics. The Barometer examines 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. The Balkan Barometer: ...


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 ...


22 Jun 2020
BALKAN BAROMETER 2020 - 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 2020 infographics booklet features some of the defining thoughts ...


10 Jun 2020
WBIF awards €8.3 million worth of grants financed by the EU for Western Balkans’ Digital, Environment and Social projects news

Sarajevo/Brussels – Good news for the region come from the Brussels today as Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) Steering Committee approved eight grant applications for technical assistance from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and Serbia, at its session held online today. The projects 8,3 million EUR worth, financed by the European Union, covering digital, environment and social ...


04 Jun 2020
Digital is the future, minus the dark side…. , Op-ed by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General article

"The lockdown brought high unemployment rate rise in the Western Balkans, between 5% and more than 30%. But without modern technologies that enabled working from home and saving jobs, that number would have been even higher. 38% of our citizens see COVID-19 pandemic as a threat to their job or jobs of their family members and 35% are impatient to get back to work, the latest data from RCC's Balkan ...


01 Jun 2020
Balkan Barometer: 80% of Western Balkans managers consider digital skills very important for doing businesses news

RCC, ITU organize webinar on Development of National Digital Skills Strategies Sarajevo/Belgrade/Zurich – “Benefits of digital technologies are multi-fold. Not only they can generate greater benefits from macroeconomic perspective but could also ease procedures and make borders less visible, processes less heavy, supply of new services to customers simpler and businesses much faster,“ said ...


26 May 2020
Bregu: Western Balkans needs to switch its development trajectory from physical capital accumulation to knowledge accumulation news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu welcomed participants of the ITU Regional Development Forum for Europe Sarajevo/Tirana/Geneva - “Still unpublished latest edition of the RCC’s annual public and business survey for the Wester Balkans -  Balkan Barometer 2020 shows that, as expected, internet was extensively used for communication purposes with the proliferation of social media (69%), ...


22 May 2020
With Proven Potential for Innovation, Youth are Our Greatest Investment Opportunity interview

With Proven Potential for Innovation, Youth are Our Greatest Investment Opportunity, Article by Adem Gashi, Team Leader of the RCC Western Balkans Youth Lab Project "There is no crystal ball to tell the fortune, but it’s crystal clear that by involving youth in decision making, the region will have a better future"


22 May 2020
Green Agenda and Biological Biodiversity for the Western Balkans as important as all other Development Agendas news

Online Consultations on the Green Agenda for Western Balkans with partners from the region, projects working in this area and the European Commission Sarajevo/Belgrade – “All economic and social development agendas, crucial for the development of our region and its EU-accession journey have to be accompanied by the equal efforts of environment protection and climate change responses. ...


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 ...


05 May 2020
RCC Secretary General for Radio Free Europe (RFE) interview

“Implementation of initiatives to strengthen cooperation amongst the [Western] Balkans Six economies would create conditions for better life of our citizens. What might save us from pains is for the political leaders and experts to say, because coronavirus pandemic is an abnormal situation that comes with abnormal risks. Cooperation is vital and I believe we all got the idea that solo play will bring ...


30 Apr 2020
RCC Initiates Regional Working Group on Digital Upskilling in the Western Balkans news

80% of Western Balkans citizens are active Internet users, but knowledge of basic digital skills varies between 32 and 67% Sarajevo – In an attempt to address high digital skills gap present in the Western Balkans and especially obvious in the current situation of economies’ lockdown when many jobs have moved from onsite to online, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) initiated and hosted ...


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


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, ...


20 Mar 2020
Bregu: The only way to prevent shortages of medical equipment or food in WB is to simplify and harmonize sanitary controls – a Green Corridor news

Tirana/Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, spoke last night at the Tirana based RTV Klan’s Opinion show, about the major distress in the region after the European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/402, which imposes new rules, for the export of personal protective equipment and medical equipment outside the EU. Below is ...


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.


12 Mar 2020
Article by Al Jazeera Balkans featuring statement by the RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu on Western Balkans Digital Agenda article

Secretary General of the Reginal Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu for Al Jazeera Balkans on the topic of development and usage of e-services and cybersecurity and digital literacy in the region: "According to our Balkan Barometer 2019, more than 76% of the WB citizens say they use internet, but only 4% say they are paying bills online, and just 2% use government e-services. According to same data ...


16 Jan 2020
The air pollution is killing us: Article by the RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu for FENA News Agency article

In the article for FENA News Agency, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu reiterates the importance of addressing the air pollution in the region, as it continuously jeopardises health and wellbeing of the citizens. Many Western Balkans cities occupy the tops of the lists of the most polluted cities in the world and decisive actions to mitigate air pollution ...


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” ...


16 Dec 2019
Climate change does not need Schengen visa, Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council article

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on burning issue and challanges of climate change and Green Agenda in the Western Balkans: "We need to do more to raise awareness among the citizens that each and every one of us, including children, can and should make a difference. We truly are in this together, whether you like to admit it or not. The small steps also count – reducing plastic containers, minding ...


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 ...


02 Dec 2019
Bregu: It’s high time for the Western Balkans to address challenges and sensitivities with a clearer and ambitious vision news

RCC Secretary General addressed the meeting of Coordinators in charge of MAP REA implementation Brussels – “The region is at a different landscape. It is high time to address challenges and sensitivities with a clearer and ambitious vision. We are initiating the process of the new economic vision beyond 2020 in close consultation with all six Western Balkan (WB) economies and the European ...


05 Nov 2019
Low women employment and labour market skills mismatch in Western Balkans call for stronger cooperation news

Istanbul – “The women unemployment in the Western Balkans is 60%. Analyses show a big mismatch in the labour market(s) between the demands and offered sets of skills and knowledge. Almost half of the students in the region enrol into the Humanities, Social Sciences and Business study programmes (49%) and only 24% of them choose Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects, ...


30 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 ...


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 ...


24 Sep 2019
ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTI-ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR A REGIONAL ECONOMIC AREA (MAP REA) IN WESTERN BALKANS (WB) report

The Multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB) helps boost regional economic cooperation through: furthering regional trade integration, enhancing competitiveness and unleashing potentials for growth, promoting the region as an unique space for investment, creating better conditions to ensure free movement of professionals and skilled people, ...


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 ...


01 Aug 2019
Terms of References for the Biodiversity Task Force under the Regional Environmental Working Group meeting document

Terms of References for the Biodiversity Task Force under the Regional Environmental Working Group. The Regional Cooperation Council established a Regional Working Group of high-level representatives of South-East Europe (SEE) ministries responsible for environment, water resources, land, energy and climate change (hereinafter referred to as “Regional Working Group on Environment” or “RWG Env”) ...


22 Jul 2019
SOUTH EAST EUROPE 2020: 2019 ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION report

The report aims to present main achievements related to the implementation of the South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) for the period from May 2018 until May 2019. It is divided into three main parts: a summary overview of the progress achieved, a detailed review per pillar and key recommendations per each dimension. The Report was endorsed at the SEE 2020 Governing Board meeting held on 8 ...


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
RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2020 –2022 report

The Strategy and Work Programme 2020-2022 ‘Stepping up the Transformation’, of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, endorsed at the RCC Annual Meeting, on 8 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to enhance socio-economic, digital and human connectivity within South East Europe (SEE), and between the region and the European Union (EU) through strengthened regional cooperation ...


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 ...


07 Jul 2019
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2019 at the Annual meeting of the organisation in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 5th, 2019 edition of its public and businesses viewpoints survey – Balkan Barometer (BB) at the Annual meeting of the organisation that is taking place on 8 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.  The premier presentation of the 2019 Balkan Barometer was held at the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan, 3 days ago, featuring ...


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 ...


04 Jul 2019
Bregu: Western Balkans needs to fully embrace and capitalize on the Regional Economic Area news

Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the RCC spoke about implementation of the Action Plan for Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans at the region’s Economy Ministers Ministerial session Poznan – “Two years since the endorsement of Multi-annual Action plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Trieste and one year since London our region can show only a mixed track record at ...


04 Jul 2019
Bregu: Balkan Barometer 2019 clearly shows public and business appreciation of regional cooperation and need to strengthen it news

RCC presents key findings of 2019 Balkan Barometer surveys within Western Balkans Poznan Summit  Poznan – “There's no better way to stress the need for stepping up the regional cooperation than quoting the citizens and businesses of the Western Balkans (WB) who overwhelmingly, with 74% and 67% respectively, believe in regional cooperation. The recent success with dropping of roaming ...


03 Jul 2019
BALKAN BAROMETER 2019: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY survey

Balkan Barometer 2019, the fifth instalment of the RCC-commissioned annual survey of regional perceptions and attitudes across a wide array of social, political and economic factors impacting life in South East Europe (SEE), is modestly optimistic. It shows growing support for EU membership with more than half of all respondents viewing EU accession favourably, a first since the Barometer’s inception ...


03 Jul 2019
BALKAN BAROMETER 2019: BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY survey

Balkan Barometer 2019, the fifth instalment of the RCC-commissioned annual survey of regional perceptions and attitudes across a wide array of social, political and economic factors impacting life in South East Europe (SEE), is modestly optimistic. It shows growing support for EU membership with more than half of all respondents viewing EU accession favourably, a first since the Barometer’s inception ...


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 ...


01 Jul 2019
Leaflet: Roaming Free Western Balkans information material

#RoamingFreeWesternBalkans: After the signing of the Regional Roaming Agreement in Belgrade on 4 April 2019, drastic cuts of roaming costs in the region begun on 1 July 2019, leading to lowering roaming costs with EU, and 0 costs in WB in 2021


01 Jul 2019
Roaming Prices Drastically Drop across Western Balkans: Speak more, surf more – pay less! news

#RoamingFreeWesternBalkans: Drastic cuts of roaming costs in the region begun, leading to lowering roaming costs with EU, and 0 costs in WB in 2021 Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is happy to announce that as of today, roaming prices across the entire Western Balkans (WB) have dropped drastically. Citizens of the WB will be able to speak, surf, SMS much more and pay much less.  On ...


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 ...


13 May 2019
Region works to implement “Speak more, pay less” principle the Western Balkans committed to news

Western Balkans Roaming Policy Meeting convened by the RCC held in Brussels Brussels – “One month after the signing of the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2) for the Western Balkans (WB) at the Digital Summit on 4 April 2019 in Belgrade, the focus is on steps needed to ensure its smooth, uniform and efficient implementation. WB citizens and all our partners are very keen to see positive ...


09 May 2019
Bregu: Divided we fall, united we stand news

RCC SG Majlinda Bregu at the EBRD’s Annual Meeting & Business Forum  Sarajevo – “Western Balkan economies are united by need and a sense of emergency and awareness that there is a clear reason why regions come together in the world. Divided we cannot stand, because we are small economies, each one with its own problems. But all together we could be an interesting market. This is ...


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.


04 Apr 2019
Regional Roaming Agreement for the Western Balkans agreement

Regional Roaming Agreement or Agreement on the price reduction of the roaming services in public mobile communication networks in the Western Balkans region was signed in Belgrade, during the second Western Balkans Digital Summit on 4 April 2019. The Agreement stipulates Roaming-Free region as by 2021.


04 Apr 2019
Region seals the deal – 2021 roaming free Western Balkans news

Ministers of Telecommunications from the Western Balkans Signed Regional Roaming Agreement for the Western Balkans Belgrade – “A deal is a destination! Today’s signature of the Roaming Free Agreement is a step that makes a difference in the region. Amid all scepticism let us say loudly: Europe delivers”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) upon ...


01 Apr 2019
Roaming free? Downloading... Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council article

Regional Roaming Agreement for the Western Balkans: "It means you would be able to speak, SMS or surf more, wherever in the region you find yourself in, and pay much less. No more worries about making sure that your data is off when you cross the border."


01 Apr 2019
RoamLike@Home in the Western Balkans: People see it as important as free movement; businesses believe it will spur trade news

Sarajevo – The people of the Western Balkans (WB), businessman/woman, travellers, students, youngsters, everybody, are in unison when it comes to bringing down the roaming charges in the region – they are looking forward to it and see it as a great benefit to them personally and their businesses. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has asked people in all 6 region’s capitals what does #RoamingFreeWesternBalkans ...


26 Mar 2019
Bregu: Western Balkans Digital Summit and Poznan Summit are our chances to showcase we can deliver together as a region news

Coordinators of Multi-Annual Action Plan of Regional Economic Area in Western Balkans meet for the 4 time Brussels – “Upcoming second WB Digital Summit in Belgrade, as well as the Poznan Summit are our chances to showcase that we can deliver together as a region,” said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, at the meeting of the Multi-Annual Action Plan ...


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.


21 Mar 2019
RCC Secretary General Bregu calls for more efficient future action and better communication with the citizens news

SEE 2020 Strategy’s Coordination Board meets for 11th time in Sarajevo Sarajevo – Coordination Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe’s growth Strategy (SEE 2020) has met in Sarajevo today, to reflect on the implementation results, identify potential action synergies for further cooperation as well as post-2020 regional priorities and strategic framework.  The ...


20 Mar 2019
Turdiu: Our task is to translate political will and commitments into concrete actions and results news

WB6 meet to review implementation progress of Multi-Annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area Tirana – The Western Balkan Six (WB6) Component Contact Points (CCPs) in charge for implementation and monitoring of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) reflected on the results of MAP REA implementation during the period July-December 2018, at their third meeting, organized ...


19 Feb 2019
Preparations for the 2nd Western Balkans' Digital Summit enter its final stage news

Belgrade – The preparations for the upcoming 2nd edition of the Western Balkans' Digital Summit entered its final stage.  With just slightly over 40 days to the big regional event,  the Summit's Steering Committee, including the host - Serbian Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunication, the Office for Information Technologies and e-Government of the Government of Serbia and Serbian ...


18 Feb 2019
Once Western Balkans reach new roaming agreement among itself, EU ready for reduction of roaming tariffs between WB and EU, as of July 2019 news

RCC Secretary General Bregu, EU Commissioner Gabriel meet in Skopje Skopje – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu is in Skopje today, where she met with the EU Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel.  Bregu and Gabriel discussed the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2) for the Western Balkans (WB) that is being finalised, ...


08 Feb 2019
‘Roam Like at Home’ speak more, pay less: Western Balkans agrees on text of new Regional Roaming Agreement news

Brussels – Representatives of the ICT Ministries and Regulators from Western Balkans Six (WB6) economies agreed on the text and the next steps leading towards signing of the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2), at the third negotiations organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels today.  Outstanding technical aspects of the all-inclusive Western Balkan Roaming Agreement ...


01 Feb 2019
30 million EUR earmarked for Western Balkans in Broadband connectivity under Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF) news

RCC organised a series of awareness-raising workshops across the region to spark interest and boost applications  30 million EUR are earmarked for the investment projects in digital infrastructure (fixed broadband connectivity) for the Western Balkans, through the Western Balkan Investment Framework (WBIF). As only half a million of the envisaged WBIF funds under digital window have been ...


24 Jan 2019
RCC: ‘Roam Like at Home’ speak more, pay less news

New Regional Roaming Agreement in the pipeline, start of reduction of costs by July 2019, leading to zero roaming cost by 2021 Brussels – The second round of negotiations on the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA2) for the Western Balkans (WB), organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), is being held in Brussels today.  Addressing the meeting participants, the RCC Secretary ...


31 Dec 2018
Abridged Report on Implementation of MAP REA, July-December 2018 report

This report presents the key developments during July-December 2018 along the four components of Multi-annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB6), capturing progress and highlighting the most important milestones. The report is prepared by RCC based on the inputs and reporting delivered by WB6 in several meetings (i.e. MAP REA Coordinators’ meeting, WB6 ...


13 Dec 2018
Western Balkans moving towards a roaming free region news

Brussels – Representatives of the economies from the Western Balkans (WB) gathered in Brussels today to discuss on the new Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA), at the meeting of the Western Balkans Roaming Policy organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).  The meeting gathering representatives of the ICT Ministries and Telecommunications Regulators from the WB economies, in ...


27 Nov 2018
Biodiversity Task Force of South East Europe - Technical and advisory body of the Regional Working Group on Environment information material

The Biodiversity Task Force (BD TF) is an intergovernmental technical and advisory body of the Regional Working Group on Environment that coordinates regional activities, facilitates the implementation of the South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy and creates a framework for more efficient implementation of biodiversity policies in the framework of accession to the European Union.


27 Nov 2018
Meeting on Cybersecurity and CSIRTs Cooperation in Western Balkans: Cybersecurity a necessity of modern societies news

Limassol - Western Balkans’ Computer Security Incident Response Teams (CSIRTs) met in Limassol, Cyprus today, within International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Cyber Drill - ALERT (Applied Learning for Emergency Response Teams) for Europe Region that is taking place to from 26-30 November 2018. The meeting was co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), ITU and The Geneva Centre for ...


21 Nov 2018
Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans agreed in Skopje declaration/decision

The Ministers from Western Balkans responsible for the environment and climate change, gathered in Skopje on 21st November 2018 under the framework for the implementation of the South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy and its Environment Dimension, have agreed on the Joint Declaration by which, among other things, they call for further strengthening of the synergies and regional cooperation for ...


21 Nov 2018
Svilanovic: Western Balkans should work on preserving its environment and address climate change, regardless of its EU accession process news

Western Balkans call for strengthening of regional cooperation in implementing environment and climate change priorities in line with EU acquis  Skopje – Western Balkans ministers in charge of the environment called for further strengthening of synergies and regional cooperation for the implementation of the environment and climate change priorities in the region, in line with the EU acquis, ...


20 Nov 2018
Skopje to host 3rd Ministerial Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans news

Skopje – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising the 3rd in row Ministerial Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, which is to take place in Skopje tomorrow. The event is organized together with the host Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.  The meeting is to take stock of the implementation of Bonn Ministerial Declaration, review the key regional ...


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.


09 Oct 2018
RCC hosts the third meeting of MAP REA Coordinators from Western Balkan Six news

This is a critical moment for full implementation success of MAP REA Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted the 3rd meeting of Coordinators of Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) on Regional Economic Area (REA) in Western Balkan Six (WB6), discussing the implementation results, next milestones, the most pressing challenges and reiterating commitments, in Brussels today.  Central ...


18 Jul 2018
Chairs' conclusions of the Economy Ministers' Meeting of the London Western Balkans Summit 2018 meeting document

The participants of the Economy Ministers Meeting of the Berlin Process met in Vienna on 4 July and issued the conclusions presented in the document. The meeting built on the achievements of previous Berlin Process Summits, the recent European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Western Balkans Investment Summit, and the Skopje Digital Summit.


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 ...


06 Jul 2018
BALKAN BAROMETER 2018: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY survey

2018 Balkan Barometer is the fourth instalment of the annual public opinion survey commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council to gather and interpret data spanning a number of thematic areas and topics. The Barometer, as in previous years, 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 ...


06 Jul 2018
BALKAN BAROMETER 2018: BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY survey

2018 Balkan Barometer is the fourth instalment of the annual public opinion survey commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council to gather and interpret data spanning a number of thematic areas and topics. The Barometer, as in previous years, 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 ...


06 Jul 2018
BALKAN BAROMETER 2018 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

BALKAN BAROMETER 2018 booklet features the prevailing issues of the Balkan Barometer (BB) 2018 survey through infographics. The 2018 edition of BB is yet another instalment in the series of annual public opinion surveys commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council. The entire BB survey is available at http://www.rcc.int/seeds


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 ...


05 Jul 2018
Brochure: South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy - 2018 IMPLEMENTATION RESULTS information material

The Western Balkans has returned to the growth path, having added more than 600 THOUSAND JOBS to its economies since 2010 and half a million highly educated people to its workforce. The region expanded its trade by additional EUR 33 BILLION and decreased its trade deficit from -23.1 to -19.7 percent of GDP over the last 7 years through strong export performance, signaling increasing competitiveness ...


05 Jul 2018
Brochure: South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy - 2018 IMPLEMENTATION RESULTS information material

The Western Balkans has returned to the growth path, having added more than 600 THOUSAND JOBS to its economies since 2010 and half a million highly educated people to its workforce. The region expanded its trade by additional EUR 33 BILLION and decreased its trade deficit from -23.1 to -19.7 percent of GDP over the last 7 years through strong export performance, signaling increasing competitiveness ...


05 Jul 2018
SOUTH EAST EUROPE 2020: 2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION report

A comprehensive monitoring effort was introduced to measure the progress of SEE 2020 Strategy's activities implemented and results achieved. This Annual Report on Implementation (ARI) is the main output of the SEE 2020 monitoring process. This 2018 report covers the period from June 2017 to June 2018 and is divided into two main parts: a summary overview of the progress achieved, issues arising and ...


05 Jul 2018
Major milestone in SEE 2020 Strategy implementation: Western Balkans ADDS more than 600 000 JOBS news

Brussels – Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) endorsed the 2018 Annual Report on Strategy’s implementation (ARI), at its fifth meeting held in Brussels today, in the eve of the presentation of the RCC’s Balkan barometer 2018. The main finding of the report shows that, since the beginning of the SEE 2020 implementation, ...


04 Jul 2018
Svilanovic: Notable progress achieved in the implementation of Multi-Annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans news

Vienna – Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Goran Svilanovic presented key results of the implementation of Multi-Annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) at the ministerial panel dedicated to this topic of the Economy Ministers’ Meeting of the London Western Balkans Summit held in Vienna today. Secretary General Svilanovic said that notable progress has ...


03 Jul 2018
Brochure: Implementation of the Multi-Annual Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) information material

Brochure: Implementation of the Multi-Annual Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA): Economies at a Glance>State of Play and Way Forward


03 Jul 2018
Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Western Balkan Six (WB6) report

The Multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB6), endorsed at the Trieste Summit of 12 July 2017, puts forward a strategic joint agenda for the Western Balkan economies to further regional economic cooperation with a view to unleash the potentials for growth, create conditions for better, transparent and predictable investment climate and improve ...


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 ...


25 Jun 2018
Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans Launched in Sofia news

Sofia – Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans (WB) was launched in Sofia today, at the Digital Assembly 2018, a key annual policy event organised by the European Commission Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology, and the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), that gathers more than 1,000 stakeholders and policymakers to debate EU digital ...


22 Jun 2018
European Commission: Measures in support of a Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans meeting document

The Sofia Declaration2, of 17 May 2018, agreed “by the leaders of the European Union (EU) and its Member States, in consultation with our Western Balkans partners”, at the 'European Union - Western Balkans Summit' includes the launch of a Sofia Priority Agenda for the EU and the Western Balkans. The Priority Agenda comprises, under the title “A Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans”, the following ...


19 Jun 2018
MAP Stocktaking and Needs Assessment Report report

The overall aim of the Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) Stocktaking and Needs Assessment Report is to take stock of the measures and resources needed to implement the key objectives set out in the MAP and recommend future actions, both at economy and regional level. The report identifies the major policy gaps and needs, including assistance through bilateral or regional projects, and proposes a set of ...


12 Jun 2018
RCC hosts regional meeting on coordination and harmonization of spectrum policies in the Western Balkans news

Prague - Coordination and harmonisation of spectrum policies in the Western Balkans (WB) was discussed at the regional meeting organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) that took place in Prague, Chez Republic today. The meeting gathered representatives WB ministries in charge of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Regulatory Agencies, International Telecommunication Union ...


06 Jun 2018
Study on climate change in the Western Balkans region study

This Study aims to support the Western Balkans (WB) region in creating its sustainable development cycle coordinated by the priorities of the WB economies, which is in compliance with global and EU responsibilities, releasing some burden of extensive work expected from each economy to implement. It provides quantitative data for implementation of the South East Europe 2020 Strategy, decision-making ...


06 Jun 2018
RCC publishes Study on Climate Change in the Western Balkans: Alarming increase of temperature over the whole territory news

Sarajevo – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) published a Study on climate change in the Western Balkans, showing alarming increase of temperature over the whole territory, with observed temperature increase of 1.2ºC in the near future, destined to warm further by 1.7 – 4.0°C and even exceeding 5.0°C by the end of the century, depending on the global effort in greenhouse gasses (GHG) emission ...


30 May 2018
Participants list of the 7th Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment meeting document

Participants list of the 7th Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment, 30 May 2018 in Skopje


30 May 2018
Agenda of the 7th Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment meeting document

Agenda of the 7th Meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment, 30 May 2018 in Skopje


30 May 2018
Climate Change Discussed at the meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment news

Skopje - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning hosted the 7th meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment (RWG Env) in Skopje, today. Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Sadulla Duraki and Deputy Secretary General of the RCC Gazmend Turdiu, welcomed all participants and expressed hope in fruitful work of the working group as ...


18 May 2018
RCC Presents Preliminary Findings of the SEE 2020 Draft Annual Implementation Report to Monitoring Committee news

Podgorica - Monitoring Committee of the South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy met for the 6th time, under auspice of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in Podgorica today, to discuss and provide comments on the Strategy’s early draft Annual Implementation Report (ARI). The meeting participants coming from regions’ economies involved in the implementation of SEE 2020 Strategy ...


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 ...


30 Apr 2018
Draft Conclusions of the first Western Balkans Digital Summit meeting document

Draft Conclusions of the first Western Balkans Digital Summit held in Skopje in April 2018


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.


19 Apr 2018
Skopje: The first Western Balkans Digital Summit finishes news

Skopje – The first ever, two-day Western Balkans Digital Summit finished in Skopje today. It brought together close to 800 participants, 50 companies and more than 50 speakers, including Prime Ministers and Ministers responsible for digital agenda from the Western Balkans (WB), EU Berlin Process participants, representatives of European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), IT industries ...


18 Apr 2018
The first Western Balkans Digital Summit opens in Skopje news

Svilanovic: Digital transformation of society crucial for the region    Skopje – The first ever Western Balkans Digital Summit, bringing together Prime Ministers and Ministers responsible for digital agenda from the Western Balkans (WB), EU Berlin Process participants, European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), representatives of IT industries and businesses, academia, ...


05 Apr 2018
Western Balkans Roaming Policy Actions Discussed at the Meeting in Brussels news

Brussels - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) together with the European Commission (EC) brought together the representatives from the Western Balkans economies’ line ministries and regulatory authorities, relevant experts from EC’s Directorate‑General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) and DG for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR) as well as RCC ...


03 Apr 2018
Skopje to host the first Western Balkans Digital Summit news

Media Advisory Skopje – The first Western Balkans Digital Summit is to take place on 18-19 April in Skopje, bringing together Heads of Governments from the Western Balkans (WB), Ministers responsible for digital agenda from WB and European Union (EU) member states participating in the Berlin Process, European Commission (EC), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), representatives from IT industries ...


13 Mar 2018
Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans - Participants List meeting document

List of participants of the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans held in Brussels on 13 march 2018


13 Mar 2018
Conclusions from the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans meeting document

The Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans was held in Brussels on 13 March 2018. The objective of the Meeting was to map and coordinate donor activities in the Western Balkans so as to help achieve a better alignment of governments’ regional development priorities and donors’ sectoral interventions. The meeting called for synergies in donor coordination process for implementation ...


13 Mar 2018
SEE 2020 Programming Document 2018-2020 meeting document

The RCC South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy Programing Committee adopted the SEE 2020 Programming Document 2018-2020 at its 6th meeting on 12 March 2017 in Brussels. The document sets out the priority actions for the Strategy implementation in the coming period.


13 Mar 2018
RCC hosts 4th Donor Coordination Meeting for the Western Balkans news

Synergy in donor coordination process for implementation of SEE 2020 Strategy and Regional Economic Area in the WB region Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is hosting the 4th Annual Meeting of Donor Coordination for the Western Balkans, in Brussels today.    While opening the meeting the RCC’s Secretary General Goran Svilanovic stressed that this, fourth donors’ gathering, ...


12 Mar 2018
List of participants of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee meeting document

List of participants of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels on 12 March 2018


12 Mar 2018
Agenda of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee meeting document

Agenda of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels on 12 March 2018


12 Mar 2018
Conclusions from the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee meeting document

The sixth meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee was held in Brussels on 12 March 2018 back to back with the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans. The aim of the meeting was to discuss and potentially endorse the SEE2020 Programming document for the period 2018 – 2020. The meeting gathered representatives of the South East Europe’s (SEE) economies participating in ...


12 Mar 2018
SEE 2020 Strategy Implementation: Programming Document for period 2018-2020 endorsed by the Strategy’s Participants news

Brussels – Representatives of the South East Europe’s (SEE) economies participating in implementation SEE 2020 Strategy endorsed the Programming Document for the period 2018-2020, at the 6th Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels, under auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), today, 12 March 2018. This Programming Document, same as the ones setting the path of ...


16 Feb 2018
Minutes of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans meeting document

Minutes of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, held on 17 November 2017 in Bonn, Germany


30 Jan 2018
Second Meeting of MAP Coordinators and B2G Meeting on MAP takes place in Trieste news

Trieste – The second meeting of the Coordinators for the RCC’s Multi Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans six (WB6) took place in Trieste today. The meeting provided an overview on the key developments in MAP implementation in each of the WB6 economies and defined clear deliverables/targets for the Sofia and London Summits this spring/summer.  The ...


20 Dec 2017
Preparations for Western Balkans Digital Summit 2018 Continue news

Berlin - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the European Commission and German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy continued with preparations of the Western Balkans (WB) Digital Summit 2018 at the two-day meeting held in Berlin, Germany on 19-20 December 2017. This meeting is a follow-up of the constituting meeting held at RCC in Sarajevo in October.   The ...


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 ...


08 Dec 2017
First Regional Meeting on the Digital Integration news

Brussels - The first regional meeting on Digital Integration, in line with the Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) activities on the implementation of the Multi Annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA), was held in Brussels on 7-8 December 2017.  This stock-taking meeting aimed to support implementation of the measures under the MAP Digital Integration component. The participants ...


04 Dec 2017
Leaflet on Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans - MAP information material

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 Berlin-process summit held on 12 July 2017 in Trieste.


21 Nov 2017
RCC: Chisinau Hosts Cyber Security Drill for Europe and CIS Regions news

Chisinau – Three-day cyber drill - Joint ALERT (Applied Learning for Emergency Response Teams) for Europe and CIS Regions, hosted by Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure of Moldova, has started in Moldovan capital today.  The event was opened by Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of Moldova who welcomed the participants wishing them a good drill. Prime Minister underlined importance of development ...


17 Nov 2017
Participants list of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans meeting document

Participants list of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, in Bonn (Germany) on 17 November 2017


17 Nov 2017
Agenda of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans meeting document

Agenda of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, in Bonn (Germany) on 17 November 2017


17 Nov 2017
Ministerial Declaration on the occasion of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans declaration/decision

The participants of the 2nd High-level Panel on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans, organised by the RCC and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia, on 17 November 2017 in Bonn, endorsed the Declaration on Environment and Climate Action in the Western Balkans agreeing on the growing need in the region to improve the coordination of existing regional initiatives and projects ...


17 Nov 2017
Bonn: Western Balkans reaffirms its strong commitment to regional cooperation in addressing environmental and climate challenges news

Svilanovic: 73% of citizens of the region perceive climate change as a problem Bonn – Western Balkans authorities in charge of the environmental and climate change gathered at high-level panel in Bonn, Germany today, voicing strong commitment to joint regional action in responding to environmental and climate challenges. The event was organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and ...


31 Oct 2017
RCC hosts the first meeting of coordinators for the Western Balkans Regional Economic Area news

Brussels - Following the Trieste Western Balkans (WB) Summit and the endorsement of the RCC’s Multi Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the WB6, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Western Balkans Chamber Investment Forum (CIF), organized the first Meeting of the MAP coordinators that ended in Brussels today. “We are now straight in MAP’s implementation mode ...


17 Oct 2017
RCC: Implementation of the action plan for Regional Economic Area – preparations for the 2018 Western Balkans Digital Summit begin news

  Sarajevo – Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) for the Regional Economic Area (REA), endorsed at the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste this year, commenced today in the area of digital integration.    The MAP participating parties established the Western Balkans (WB) Six Steering Committee for the preparation of the 2018 WB Digital Summit at the meeting ...


09 Oct 2017
BALKAN BAROMETER 2017: PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY survey

The 2017 edition of BALKAN BAROMETER (BB) is yet another instalment in the series of annual public opinion surveys commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council. It collects and analyses data across a host of thematic areas, examining aspirations and expectations of the region's populations and its business community on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends as well as regional ...


09 Oct 2017
BALKAN BAROMETER 2017: BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY survey

The 2017 edition of BALKAN BAROMETER (BB) is yet another instalment in the series of annual public opinion surveys commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council. It collects and analyses data across a host of thematic areas, examining aspirations and expectations of the region's populations and its business community on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends as well as regional ...


09 Oct 2017
BALKAN BAROMETER 2017 - INFOGRAPHICS survey

This publication features the prevailing issues of the Balkan Barometer (BB) 2017 survey through infographics. The 2017 edition of BB is yet another instalment in the series of annual public opinion surveys commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council. The entire BB survey is available at http://www.rcc.int/seeds


06 Oct 2017
RCC to present its Balkan Barometer 2017 – a perception survey of citizens and business communities on the situation in the region news

Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present its 3rd edition of the public and business opinion survey – Balkan Barometer 2017 in Brussels, Belgium, on 9 October 2017.  The launch, organised by the RCC in cooperation with European Policy Centre (EPC) – an independent think-thank, envisages presentation of key findings of the Balkan Barometer public and business opinion ...


25 Jul 2017
RCC hosts regional meeting on development of energy management in public sector news

Jahorina - 1st regional meeting on development of system for energy management in public sector, hosted by Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), took place on Jahorina today. The meeting heard presentations of the main findings of RCC-conducted Study analysing legal and institutional framework in the Western Balkan economies, achievements and concept for development of the Regional Energy Management ...


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 ...


29 Jun 2017
South East Europe 2020: 2017 Annual Report on Implementation report

The report, endorsed at the SEE 2020 Governing Board meeting held on 28 June 2017 in Dubrovnik, Croatia, reflects the status of implementation of the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy.


28 Jun 2017
Infographics - SOUTH EAST EUROPE 2020: 2017 ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION information material

This publication shows the most catching results in implementation of the SEE 2020 Strategy until December 2016 through Infographics. For full information where the SEE is when it comes to implementation of the SEE 2020 strategy, please check the South East Europe 2020: 2017 Annual Report on Implementation.


28 Jun 2017
Annual report on SEE 2020 Strategy implementation endorsed news

  Dubrovnik – Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) SEE 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) endorsed the Annual Report on Strategy’s implementation (ARI). The fourth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Governing Board was held in Dubrovnik today, in the eve of the RCC’s Annual meeting.   Goran Svilanovic, Secretary General of the RCC stressed that the 2017 draft edition of ...


20 Jun 2017
Regional efforts in combating climate challenges discussed at the 5th meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment news

Belgrade – Regional Group on Environment (RWG Env) met for the fifth time in Belgrade today to discuss current environmental challenges and actions forward. “Today’s meeting was one more step towards joining our forces in achieving the common goals of protecting the environment, mitigating negative anthropogenic impact on climate change and increasing our preparedness to unavoidable ...


11 May 2017
Western Balkans’ economies continue preparations for the upcoming Triste Summit at the joint RCC-CEFTA-European Commission Workshop news

Sarajevo – Representatives of the Western Balkan (WB) six economies coming from ministries in charge of labour, education, trade, investments, digital agenda, foreign affairs as well as representatives of prime ministers gathered in Sarajevo today to identify joint economic integration initiatives and priority areas that could be presented at the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste, Italy on ...


26 Apr 2017
RCC: Western Balkans is not to be left out from the Pan-European digital infrastructure map news

Vilnius – “Western Balkans is not to be left out from the Pan-European digital infrastructure map. However, it must develop future-proof broadband policies and targets and accelerate high-speed broadband roll-out”, said Gazmend Turdiu, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Development Forum for Europe ...


17 Mar 2017
SEE 2020 Programming Document 2017-2019 meeting document

The RCC South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy Programing Committee adopted the SEE 2020 Programming Document 2017-2019 at its 5th meeting on 15 March 2017 in Sarajevo. The document sets out the priority actions for the Strategy implementation in the coming period.


03 Mar 2017
Trans-European networks and connectivity agenda in focus of inter-parliamentary conference in Pristina news

Pristina/Sarajevo – Trans-European networks policy and connectivity agenda were the focus of discussion of members of parliaments from the enlargement aspirant economies, South-East Europe Cooperation Process Parliamentary Assembly (SEECP PA) and the European Parliament (EP) at inter-parliamentary conference held in Pristina today. Having in mind that well connected transport and energy ...


01 Jan 2017
Connectivity information material

Brochure on RCC’s flagship ‘Connectivity’, featuring goals, results, and actions of the organization in this area to be taken in the forthcoming period. The Regional Cooperation Council is working towards better connected South East Europe, integrated in the EU transport, energy and digital networks and an active contributor to the relevant EU policies.


25 Nov 2016
Western Balkans need to concentrate regional efforts towards digitalisation news

RCC: The second meeting on Broadband Infrastructure Development in the region Skopje/Sarajevo – The second regional meeting on Broadband Infrastructure Development, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat took place in Skopje today. The participants of the meeting were acquainted with the EU's newest regulatory framework for broadband deployment and the set of ...


10 Nov 2016
Balkan Barometer 2016, Infographics, pocket edition survey

Balkan Barometer 2016 edition is a comprehensive survey commissioned by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on attitudes, experiences and perceptions of the general public and business community in South East Europe on various economic, social, political and cultural issues. It is an integral part of the annual monitoring process of the SEE2020 Strategy. Balkan Barometer pocket edition reveals the ...


18 Oct 2016
RCC: Initial insights of draft Regional Roaming Study presented to Western Balkans governments and regulatory agencies’ news

Sarajevo/Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat presented the initial insights of the draft Regional Roaming Study[1] to the governments’ and communication regulatory agencies’ representatives from the Western Balkans, in Brussels today. “This Study is the first analysis on roaming policies on a regional-scale, from independent  experts’ perspective, ...


27 Sep 2016
Roaming in the region could be harmonised with the EU even before accession, RCC to provide support in this news

“Further to our long-standing support for regional cooperation in the ICT sphere as part of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 Strategy, our efforts focus on delivering concrete contributions on two regional initiatives: on roaming and broadband. Roaming is the area where our economies could be harmonised with the EU even before accession, and RCC will support them in this,” said the Secretary ...


21 Jun 2016
Balkan Barometer 2016: Business Opinion Survey survey

The Balkan Barometer, published for the first time in 2015, surveys 7,000 citizens and 1,400 businesses in seven SEE economies, on a wide range of issues dealing with the political, socio-economic, business and investment climate, infrastructure, rule of law and other developments in the region. This year’s survey also includes select information on Moldova and Slovenia, giving a wider overview of ...


21 Jun 2016
Balkan Barometer 2016: Public Opinion Survey survey

The Balkan Barometer, published for the first time in 2015, surveys 7,000 citizens and 1,400 businesses in seven SEE economies, on a wide range of issues dealing with the political, socio-economic, business and investment climate, infrastructure, rule of law and other developments in the region. This year’s survey also includes select information on Moldova and Slovenia, giving a wider overview of ...


01 Jun 2016
South East Europe 2020: 2016 Annual Report on Implementation report

The report, presented at the SEE 2020 Governing Board meeting held on 30 May 2016 in Pravets, Bulgaria, reflects the status of implementation of the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy.


30 May 2016
SEE 2020 Strategy implementation shows a mixed bag of results in the past year press release

Pravets – The Governing Board of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) South East Europe 2020 (SEE 2020) Strategy heard the Annual Report on the Strategy’s implementation (ARI) at its third meeting held in Pravets (Bulgaria) today. In the past year, the RCC has focused on integrating the lessons learned into key building blocks for the upcoming Strategy and Work Programme for 2017-2019 ...


01 Apr 2016
Climate change and environment – Crucial issues for SEE press release

Sarajevo/Podgorica - The First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) took place today in Podgorica. The meeting was opened by the Montenegrin Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Branimir Gvozdenovic; the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic; the Executive Director of the ...


01 Apr 2016
Declaration of Ministers and High-Level Representatives on the occasion of the 1st High-level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in SEE declaration/decision

The Declaration has been adopted at the First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) that took place on 1 April 2016 in Podgorica, at the event co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro, and the Regional Environmental Center, together with partner organisations: ...


30 Mar 2016
Climate change and environment issues in focus on Friday in Podgorica press release

Sarajevo/Podgorica - The Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism of Montenegro and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat are co-organising the First High Level Ministerial Panel on Responding to Climate and Environmental Challenges in South East Europe (SEE) this Friday, 1 April 2016 in Podgorica. The RCC has supported the establishment of the Regional Working Group on ...


01 Mar 2016
Balkans Bioenergy Task Force kicks-off news

Sarajevo, March 1st 2016 - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) jointly hosted the kick-off meeting of the Balkans Bioenergy Task Force (BBTF). The main goal of the BBTF is to provide a permanent regional dialogue and an advocacy platform for more structured regional cooperation and networking in the field of bioenergy. ...


19 Feb 2016
RCC to actively participate in future roaming policy in Western Balkans news

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will help agree on future roaming policy among the telecommunications regulators in Western Balkans. This was concluded in Skopje today at the first meeting of Open Communications Platform at the level of line ministries and regulatory bodies for electronic communications with the overall aim of further linking the economies, reducing costs and providing ...


08 Feb 2016
More work on biodiversity protection a regional “must do” press release

Sarajevo, February 8th 2016 – Even though the governments of South-East Europe developed an initial political and legal framework for the conservation of biodiversity, the operational implementation is lagging behind and positive results from conservation efforts are limited. In a nutshell, these are the conclusions of last week’s major conference in Belgrade which marked the launch of the Regional ...


04 Feb 2016
Protecting biodiversity on a regional level is a must press release

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) launched its regional project for Biodiversity today in Belgrade with a two day conference which aims to explore the synergies between current regional biodiveristy conservation initiatives, create targeted partnerships to achieve sustainable goals and set priorities of the subprojects which will be developed. The three year project ...


30 Sep 2015
Towards a Single Information Space press release

Budva, 30 September 2015 – South-East European Ministers responsible for Information Technologies who gathered at the Budva Conference today expressed their strong common interest in participating in the creation of a single information space.  The cooperation in this area is of crucial importance, as it is a generator of the overall economic growth and business innovation. According to ...


21 May 2015
Governing Board of RCC’s SEE2020 Strategy Meets in Tirana press release

TIRANA/SARAJEVO – The South East Europe 2020 Strategy (SEE 2020) Governing Board held its second meeting in Tirana today. The SEE 2020 Strategy is the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) primary instrument for boosting growth in the region, creating jobs and assisting the EU accession process. The Strategy was adopted in November 2013 and today’s meeting of the Governing Board was an opportunity ...


19 May 2015
RCC helps establish the Regional Working Group on Environment news

Podgorica/Sarajevo, 18 May 2015 - The inaugural meeting of the Regional Working Group on Environment was held in Podgorica last week (May 14th ) under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council. Environmental protection and care is one of the four dimensions of the Sustainable Growth Pillar of the SEE 2020 Strategy and its priorities are increasing the volume of annual forestation, ...


06 May 2015
Balkan Opinion Barometer 2015 survey

The report presents the results of the RCC-commissioned survey of public opinion of SEE citizens on crucial economic and development issues, intended to engage more closely the general public in context of the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy. The survey was carried out in December 2014 by GfK, and was conducted face to face with 7000 respondents, in all seven economies covered by the Strategy.


06 May 2015
Balkan Business Barometer 2015 survey

The report presents the results of the RCC-commissioned survey of business sentiment in SEE on crucial economic and development issues, intended to engage more closely the business community in context of the RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy. The survey was carried out in December 2014 by GfK, and was conducted face to face with 1400 companies of different size and different business areas, which are not ...


22 May 2014
Interview by RCC Expert on Sustainable Growth, Amna Redzepagic Colic, to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s daily Dnevni avaz interview

In the interview, the RCC expert speaks about the RCC’s activities in the area of air transport in South East Europe, through the organisation’s South East Europe 2020 Strategy.


22 May 2014
Air Transport potentials in South East Europe focus of Sarajevo Conference news

Conference titled “Air Transport as a Driver for Development and Economic Prosperity in the South East Europe” was held at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today. The Conference that brought together representatives of ministries responsible for air transport, airlines, airports, regional organisations and academia assessed present and potential future contribution ...


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.


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 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%, ...


08 Nov 2013
Sarajevo roundtable agrees to intensify regional cooperation on integrated water resources management in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – Closer regional cooperation of water, energy and environmental sectors on the sustainable use of waters; involvement of private sector in water infrastructure development; and introduction of a regional legal and coordination instrument to ensure achievement of these goals, are key issues South East Europe (SEE) needs to address in water resources management and hydropower production ...


08 Nov 2013
Welcome speech by Miroslav Kukobat, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Unit, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, at Roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe speech

The speech was delivered at the opening of the RCC-hosted three-day roundtable in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 6-8 November 2013


06 Nov 2013
Agenda - roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe information material

The roundtable is taking place on 6-8 November 2013, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.


05 Nov 2013
Roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe to open in Sarajevo tomorrow, hosted by RCC press release

SARAJEVO – A three-day international roundtable on water and energy nexus in transboundary basins in South East Europe (SEE) will open in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, tomorrow, 6 November. The event will discuss regional cooperation in achieving water and energy security in SEE transboundary basins. The sessions will focus on securing hydropower sustainability, mapping links and dependencies ...


27 Sep 2013
2nd railway congress ends in Sarajevo, agrees to work on common railway system in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – A two-day Congress on Railways in South East Europe ended in Sarajevo today, with over 250 participants from eleven countries agreeing to work on a common railway system in the region. The participants concurred on a need to redirect road to rail transport, develop ancillary infrastructure and transport terminals, and strengthen logistic chains and interoperability to raise the ...


16 Sep 2013
RCC staff featuring South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy speech

Videos of RCC staff: Sanjin Arifagic, SEE 2020 Coordinator and Senior Expert on Economic and Social Development; Dinka Zivalj, Spokesperson; Mladen Dragasevic, Head of Building Human Capital and Cross Cutting Issues Unit; Miroslav Kukobat, Senior Expert on Energy and Infrastructure; and Svetlana Gligorovska, Expert on Infrastructure, featuring SEE 2020 strategy, at a workshop held in Sarajevo on 16 ...


15 Sep 2013
Interview by Svetlana Gligorovska, RCC Expert on Infrastructure, to Skopje daily Utrinski vesnik interview

In the interview, published on 15 September 2013, RCC Expert on Infrastructure features Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy


27 Jun 2013
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Bosnia and Herzegovina daily Oslobodjenje interview

The RCC Secretary General talks about political situation in South East Europe, regional cooperation and the RCC role, especially in relation to the SEE 2020 growth strategy.


26 Jun 2013
Article by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to Serbian daily Danas article

The article discusses regional cooperation, EU integration, SEE 2020 and Serbia in this context.


04 Jun 2013
Address by Senior RCC Expert on Infrastructure and Energy, Miroslav Kukobat, at a International Energy Conference ‘Energa 2013’ speech

The address was delivered in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 5 June 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.


29 Apr 2013
Conclusions of the conference on strengthening air traffic regional cooperation in South East Europe meeting document

The event, hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, was held on 29 April 2013 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.


29 Apr 2013
Address by RCC Chief of Staff, Jovan Tegovski, at the opening of regional conference on strengthening air traffic regional cooperation in South East Europe speech

The address was delivered at the opening of RCC-hosted event in Sarajevo on 29 April 2013.


26 Apr 2013
10 aviation organizations to sign letter of intent on joint service provision in South East Europe, under RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO – Representatives of 10 national aviation authorities and air navigation service providers will sign a Letter of Intent on the Joint Service Provision Area Initiative in South East Europe, in Sarajevo, on 29 April, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The Initiative will strengthen regional cooperation in air traffic in South East Europe, focusing on more ...


19 Mar 2013
New work programme of South East Europe Investment Committee to focus on SEE 2020 growth strategy press release

SARAJEVO - The South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) adopted an updated work programme at its meeting in Sarajevo today, focused on development of the South East Europe 2020 regional growth strategy. The South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy sets out the region’s growth and development vision. By 2020 the region needs to increase its GDP from ...


19 Mar 2013
South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) Work Programme for the Year 2013 meeting document

Adopted at the 12th SEEIC meeting, held in Sarajevo, on 19 March 2013.


18 Mar 2013
South East Europe 2020 growth strategy in focus of regional meeting, to be held in Sarajevo tomorrow, under RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO, 18 March 2013 – Development of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 regional growth strategy and its implementation will be the main topics of the 12th South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) Meeting, which will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow. The SEE 2020 targets that the region needs to reach by 2020 include: regional GDP increase from 38% to 46% of EU average; total value of ...


13 Mar 2013
Statement by RCC Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, to BiH news agency Fena interview

Secretary General Svilanovic talks about opportunities for the region under the new EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II).


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 ...


21 Sep 2012
3rd road congress wraps up in Sarajevo, agrees ways to develop road infrastructure in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – A two-day Road Congress in South East Europe ended in Sarajevo today, with over 400 participants from ten countries agreeing to establish a professional regional forum for the development of the road sector. The 3rd Bosnia and Herzegovina road congress discussed strategies of road transport system development, design of relevant studies, road construction and maintenance, safety, financing, ...


20 Sep 2012
Opening address by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the 3rd Road Congress in South East Europe agreement

The event, co-organized by the Association of Consulting Engineers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ACE BiH) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, with support of the Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, took place on 20-21 September in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.


12 Sep 2012
RCC, EC organized meeting proposes extension of Single European Sky Programme in South East Europe beyond 2012 press release

OHRID/SARAJEVO, 12 September 2012 – The third Governing Body meeting of the Implementation of Single European Sky (ISIS) Programme in South East Europe ended in Ohrid today, approving a progress report and proposing ISIS continuation beyond 2012. The meeting, which brought together representatives of relevant national civil and military authorities responsible for air traffic in SEE, was co-organized ...


12 Sep 2012
Address by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biščević, at the third meeting of ISIS Programme Governing Body speech

The third Governing Body meeting of the Implementation of Single European Sky (ISIS) Programme in South East Europe, which took place in Ohrid on 12 September 2012, was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport.


03 Jan 2012
Interview by Deputy RCC Secretary General, Jelica Minic, to Radio Free Europe interview

In the interview Deputy RCC Secretary General speaks about RCC’s activities in 2011 and plans for 2012.


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.


24 Oct 2011
Conference on urban planning in South East Europe takes place in Sarajevo today, under RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO – Regulation of informal settlements was the topic of a conference on urban planning in South East Europe, which took place today at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.   The regional event was co-organized by the Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South-East Europe (NALAS), the RCC Secretariat, the German International ...


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.


07 Sep 2011
RCC, EC organize second meeting on implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe press release

SOLIN/SARAJEVO – The second conference of the Governing Body for the Implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe (ISIS Programme) concluded today in Solin, Croatia, with a recommendation that competent ministers extend ISIS Programme to a third phase after 2012. The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the European Commission’s Directorate ...


07 Sep 2011
Conclusions of the second conference of the Governing Body for the Implementation of Single European Sky in South East Europe meeting document

The meeting, co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport, was held on 7 September 2011 in Solin, Croatia.


21 Jul 2011
Interview by Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Jelica Minic, to Balkans.com Business News interview

In the interview Deputy RCC Secretary General speaks about RCC’s role in regional cooperation in South East Europe, organization’s activities and its short and long-term goals.


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 ...


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 ...


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
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.


17 May 2011
Conclusions of a roundtable on fundraising for projects of the International Sava River Basin Commission meeting document

The meeting was hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, on 17 May 2011.


16 May 2011
RCC to host fundraising event for International Sava River Basin Commission projects press release

SARAJEVO – A roundtable on fundraising for projects of the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) will be held at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, tomorrow, 17 May. The event, co-organized by the ISRBC and the RCC Secretariat, will seek ways to deepen cooperation with competent national bodies, to facilitate and speed up fundraising activities for the ...


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.


25 Apr 2011
Conclusions and recommendations of the Second Conference on Road Infrastructure Safety Management meeting document

The event, co-organized by the Association of Consulting Engineers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat, was held on 20 April in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.


19 Apr 2011
Conference on road infrastructure safety in South East Europe to open in Sarajevo tomorrow press release

SARAJEVO – The second Conference on Road Infrastructure Safety Management in South East Europe, aimed at halving the number of traffic accidents in the region by 2020, will open in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event is co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ACE BiH) and the Ministry of Communications ...


06 Apr 2011
Interview by RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, to Serbian Radio Novi Sad interview

In the interview, RCC Secretary General speaks about the conference ‘Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth’, organized by RCC on 30-31 March 2011 in Brussels, as well as about RCC activities in general.


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.


31 Mar 2011
Western Balkans and Europe 2020 conference agrees RCC best suited to help align regional programmes with Europe 2020 press release

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Over 100 participants of a Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth conference of regional initiatives and international donors concluded in Brussels today that the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the institution most apt to help align regional programmes with goals of Europe 2020 strategy of the European Union (EU). The participants agreed ...


31 Mar 2011
Preliminary summary findings of a survey of regional initiatives and task forces in South East Europe meeting document

The document was presented at the RCC-organized conference ‘Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth’, on 30-31 March 2011 in Brussels.


30 Mar 2011
Address by the RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, at the conference 'Western Balkans and Europe 2020: Path Towards Convergence and Growth’ speech

The event, that gathered over 100 participants, was held in Brussels, Belgium on 30-31 March 2011.


30 Mar 2011
Article by Serbian news agency Beta featuring Regional Cooperation Council’s activities interview

The article reports on the opening of 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
Article on cross-border cooperation in Western Balkans, with references to Regional Cooperation Council. interview

The article, published at TransConflict and Eurasia Review websites, was originally written by Development and Transition, a joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Europe and the CIS and the London School of Economics (LSE).


09 Mar 2011
Interview by Deputy RCC Secretary General, Jelica Minic, to BiH monthly magazine and news portal Intermezzo interview

In the interview, Deputy RCC Secretary General speaks about RCC activities and regional cooperation with emphasis on Bosnia and Herzegovina.


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.


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, ...


13 Dec 2010
Interview by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic to Business Magazine interview

In the interview, the RCC Secretary General talks about the activities of the organization over the past three years, as well as future prospects.


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.


22 Nov 2010
Stronger national airspace authorities in South East Europe focus of a Sarajevo workshop, organized by RCC and Belgian EU Presidency press release

SARAJEVO – A three-day workshop on establishment and empowerment of airspace National Supervisory Authorities (NSA), will open tomorrow at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event will emphasize the importance of a strong NSA for the effective implementation of the Single European Sky (SES) legislation and for overall aviation safety. ...


24 Oct 2010
Energy Community, RCC to host workshop on reducing emissions in the energy sector in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – A two-day workshop on reducing pollutions from the power industry in South East Europe will commence in Sarajevo tomorrow, co-organized by the Secretariats of the Energy Community (EnC) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The event will discuss the progress of the Contracting Parties to the Energy Community Treaty in implementing the environmental requirements of this treaty. ...


08 Oct 2010
South-East and Eastern European initiative on sustainable energy development launched in Trieste today press release

TRIESTE/SARAJEVO – A regional initiative on sustainable energy development was launched today in Trieste, Italy, at its first task force meeting. The meeting was organized jointly by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Executive Secretariat of the Central European Initiative (CEI). The RCC- and CEI-initiated Sustainable Energy Development Regional Initiative (SEDRI) will ...


27 Sep 2010
Article by BiH daily Oslobodjenje featuring Regional Cooperation Council article

The article is about the Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013 of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and carries statements of RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, and his Deputy, Jelica Minic.


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 ...


08 Jul 2010
Commentary for EurActiv by Hido Biščević, Secretary General, Regional Cooperation Council interview

Secretary General Biscevic writes about the new spirit of rapprochement in Western Balkans and the ways it can be advanced, also in light of the RCC strategy for the next three years, endorsed last month by South East European heads of state and government.


25 Jun 2010
Albanian parliament hosts workshop on Energy Community, with Regional Cooperation Council support news

Implementation of the Energy Community (EnC) Treaty was the main topic of a workshop on Energy Community and Regional Sustainability, which took place in Tirana today. The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Albanian national assembly, with support of the EnC Secretariat. Albanian parliamentarians and parliamentary expert staff from the committees ...


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 ...


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 ...


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 ...


10 Feb 2010
RCC-organized workshop on air transport in South East Europe to take place in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – A workshop on importance of air transport for the economic and social development of South East Europe will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, 11 February, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. The event will assess the present and possible future contribution of air transport services to a regional infrastructure connectivity network and its potential in ...


22 Dec 2009
First meeting of Regional Expert Network on Energy in South East Europe takes place at RCC Secretariat news

A two-day initial meeting of the Regional Expert Network on Energy in South East Europe (SEE), which ended today at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo, discussed the energy policies in the region and its future activities, and produced appropriate documents in terms of its work plan and agenda. The meeting gathered group of energy experts from the region with broader experience in energy policies ...


14 Dec 2009
Workshop on energy security for Bosnia and Herzegovina lawmakers to take place in Sarajevo tomorrow press release

SARAJEVO – The workshop “Energy Community and Regional Security“, will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow, focusing on the implementation of Energy Community (EnC) Treaty and related market developments in South East Europe. The event is co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with support of the EnC Secretariat. The ...


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


27 Nov 2009
South East European Public-Private Partnership Network to be launched in Sarajevo next week press release

SARAJEVO – The South East European Public-Private Partnership (SEE PPP) Network will be launched in Sarajevo on Monday, 30 November, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. The objective of this first working meeting of the Network is to bring together PPP practitioners from SEE and build an agreement on the interest in supporting PPP implementation of ...


25 Sep 2009
Address by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at ministerial conference on public-private partnerships speech

The conference examined the opportunities, risks, and constraints to public-private partnership development in South East Europe, as well as the role these partnerships could potentially play in the context of national and regional development strategies.


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 ...


14 Jul 2009
Article by Croatian weekly Nacional on Regional Cooperation Council, featuring Secretary General Hido Biscevic article

Croatia's leading political weekly Nacional gives an overview of the Regional Cooperation Council and its activities, imbedding segments of an interview with the RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic into the article.


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”.


08 Jun 2009
RCC co-organized workshop on energy security held in Belgrade news

A workshop “Energy Community and Regional Security”, co-organized by the Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, with support of the Energy Community (EC) Secretariat, was held in Belgrade today. The event focused on security of energy supplies and the role of Energy Community, climate change and national security, discussing EC Treaty as a ...


28 May 2009
Regional meeting on protection of endangered habitats and species in South East Europe to take place in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – A regional meeting on NATURA 2000 (protection of sites for endangered habitats and species) will be held in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event is organized by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), under the EU-funded Regional Environmental Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP), in cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The ...


20 May 2009
Shared water resources management important component of stability in South East Europe, agrees RCC-hosted international conference press release

SARAJEVO – A three-day International Workshop on Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management in South Eastern Europe (SEE) concluded in Sarajevo today that cooperation on shared water resources management is a crucial component of stability and prosperity in SEE. The event was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission for ...


19 May 2009
Address by Deputy RCC Secretary General Jelica Minic at Belgrade Information Society and eDemocracy conference speech

The topic of the address is “Challenges for the Development of South East Europe“.


17 May 2009
International workshop on management of water resources in South East Europe to start in Sarajevo tomorrow press release

SARAJEVO – A three-day international workshop on management of transboundary water resources in South East Europe (SEE), co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, 18 May. The “International Workshop on Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management in South Eastern Europe” ...


12 Dec 2008
Quarterly report by RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic report

Report to the RCC Board on the activities of the RCC Secretariat, for the period 1 October-5 December 2008.


14 Nov 2008
Environmental ministers launch plan for adapting to climate change in Southeast Europe press release

SARAJEVO – Five ministers launched the Southeast European (SEE) Climate Change Framework Action Plan for Adaptation at a conference held in Sarajevo today, thus making a concrete commitment to regional cooperation in combating climate change. Under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), the environmental ...


14 Nov 2008
South East European Climate Change Framework Action Plan for Adaptation meeting document

The Action Plan represents the outcome of a joint effort of interested South East European countries in creating a common platform for sub-regional cooperation in addressing the climate change.


14 Nov 2008
Joint Statement on combating climate change in South East Europe statement

The Joint Statement was adopted by environmental ministers of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, at the first ministerial conference on "Combating Climate Change in South East Europe", held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 14 November 2008.


13 Nov 2008
RCC to host first ministerial conference on combating climate change in Southeast Europe press release

SARAJEVO – The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will host the first Ministerial Conference on Combating Climate Change in Southeast Europe (SEE), in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event represents an integral part of the framework programme “Roadmap for Environmental Cooperation in South-Eastern Europe” and is jointly organized by the RCC and the Regional Environmental Center ...


24 Oct 2008
Southeast Europe should make best use of its potential for energy transport routes, says RCC Secretary General in Prague press release

PRAGUE/SARAJEVO – The Southeast European governments should design transnational projects in energy sector to enhance regional energy infrastructure links and make the best use of geo-economic potential for transport routes from energy sources through Southeast Europe to Western Europe, said RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic at the two-day Prague European Energy Forum which ends today. Secretary ...


27 Jun 2008
RCC Secretary General takes part in ministerial meeting on implementation of Energy Community Treaty for SEE press release

BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Implementation of the Treaty Establishing the Energy Community for South Eastern Europe was the topic of the meeting of the EC Ministerial Council held in Brussels today. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supports the Treaty implementation. The organization’s Secretary General Hido Biscevic highlighted its importance for South Eastern Europe (SEE). “The RCC pays ...


15 May 2008
Key Infrastructure and Energy links information material


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


25 Oct 2005
Treaty establishing the Energy Community declaration/decision