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16 Mar 2024
Painting the Western Balkans’ Labour Markets in Brighter Colours - Op-Ed by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu article

Op-ed by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu discusses the evolving labor market trends in the Western Balkans, highlighting a decrease in unemployment rates but also pointing out significant challenges such as skill shortages, emigration of talented workers, and disparities in vocational education participation. It emphasizes the importance of addressing these challenges ...


11 Mar 2024
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2023 page

Rigerta Loku Green Woman Entrepreneurof the Year ...


06 Feb 2024
Unleashing the Potential for Competitiveness: Trends in the Western Balkans study

RCC’s Foresight study, "Unleashing the Potential for Competitiveness: Trends in the Western Balkans," presents trends likely to shape the region's competitiveness until 2035. It examines the potential impacts on inclusive growth and offers examples that might be useful to the Western Balkan (WB) economies. Utilizing Strategic Foresight methodology, the study equips stakeholders with evidence-based ...


01 Feb 2024
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year page

What is it about? It is our pleasure to announce that the nomination process for the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2023 has begun! Launched in the framework of the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2021-2024 and RCC Women Economic Empowerment Agenda, this Initiative aims to recognise women who have started and developed their own businesses and ...


15 Dec 2023
The Second EU-Western Balkans Youth Forum, hosted by the RCC, ends in Novi Sad news

The second edition of the EU Balkan Youth Forum (EUBYF), organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation and with funding of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as RCC’s EU-funded WB Youth Lab project (WBYL), ended in Novi Sad today. The Forum gathered more than 30 young people from Western Balkans (WB) and European Union (EU).     “I ...


12 Dec 2023
Opening speech by RCC Secretary General at the second edition of the Regional Butterfly Award ceremony speech

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu opened second edition of the Regional Butterfly Award ceremony together with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Mariya Gabriel, in Sofia on 12 December 2023. “Investment in research and Development (R&D) in our region remains quite low - less than 1% of the GDP while in EU the figure is 2.3%. To fulfil the promise of today’s ...


12 Dec 2023
RCC Reveals Winners of the 2023 Regional Butterfly Innovation Award news

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu, and Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel present the awards to the winners   Sofia – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) revealed the winners of the 2023 Regional Butterfly Innovation Award, at a ceremony RCC organized with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, held in Sofia today. “Congratulations - we hope the Butterfly ...


11 Dec 2023
European Union-Western Balkans Cooperation in Focus This Week news

12 December, Sofia  RCC to present winners of the Regional Butterfly Innovation Award 2023 in Sofia  The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the winners of the second edition of Regional Butterfly Innovation Award at a ceremony co-organised with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, on 12 December 2023 in Sofia. The Awards will be presented by the RCC Secretary General ...


24 Nov 2023
Bregu: Can you put a price tag on people leaving the region? In a way, yes, you can. news

RCC Secretary General on human capital and youth brain drain in the new edition of #TalkingPoint  Western Balkans is ranked among some of the economies most affected by brain drain, with expectations to lose around one million young people in the coming decade. People leaving the region does not only pose a risk to workforce availability but also threatens additional pressure to health ...


19 Oct 2023
Imagine. Innovate. Create: RCC opens applications for Butterfly Innovation Award 2023 news

Butterfly Innovation Award fund at 30,000 EUR - 6 most successful ideas to get 5,000 EUR each Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is inviting creative minds to apply for the 2nd round of Regional Butterfly Innovation Award for innovative, scalable, and market-based solutions from the Western Balkans. The Butterfly Innovation Award fund is set at 30,000 EUR, where the best ...


16 Oct 2023
Fact sheet: Agreement on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Nurses, Veterinary Surgeons, Pharmacists, and Midwives information material

The Heads of Governments of the Western Balkans Six signed one more agreement under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan’s mobility agenda, a process facilitated by the RCC - on the recognition of professional qualifications of nurses, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, and midwives – at the Berlin Process Summit held in Tirana on 16 October 2023.


27 Jun 2023
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2022-2023 report

This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2022 – April 2023. 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 ...


04 Jun 2023
Bregu: This year marks one of the most impactful ones for the Western Balkans when it comes to regional cooperation news

Participants of RCC Annual Meeting endorse organisation’s Annual Report  Budva - "This year marks one of the most impactful ones for the Western Balkans, marking the long-awaited turning point towards commitments taken by the economies of the region, through the Common Regional Market (CRM). With integrity, collegiality and competence - three words of tradition and challenge, ...


19 May 2023
Women entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans: Stocktaking on constraints and good practices report

This document provides a state of play of women entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans economies, aiming to provide key findings and recommendations through an actionable roadmap for each economy. While the analysis is conducted separately, there are striking similarities, both on key positive developments as well as challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. Therefore, the report takes both a comparative ...


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

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


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

Regional Cooperation Council Hosts 48th meeting of RCC Board  Sarajevo – “External risks arising from the current geopolitical crisis and the rise in commodity prices reinforce the purpose of the Common Regional Market agenda. Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains the key towards strengthening economic resilience of the Western Balkans,” said Secretary ...


09 Mar 2023
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the year 2022 page

Dhurata Thanasi Daneri Travel and Hospitality Woman Entrepreneur Dhurata Thanasi Daneri is an Albanian food enthusiast and creator of Luga e Argjendte, the first Albanian food blog. Luga e Argjendte connects Albanian consumers with farmers and food producers in a way that is healthier and better for the environment and economy. ...


03 Feb 2023
RCC: Nominations for Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 open news

RCC launched the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year recognition last year under its Women Economic Empowerment Agenda Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is happy to announce that the nomination process for the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 has begun! The RCC launched this initiative last year in the framework of the Common Regional Market ...


02 Feb 2023
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year page

What is it about? We are happy to announce that the nomination process for the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year 2022 has begun! We launched this initiative last year in the framework of the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2021-2024 and our Women Economic Empowerment Agenda, to recognise women who have started and developed their own business and ...


18 Jan 2023
Bregu: To have wider choices, earn more, and live better - Choose STEM Future news

RCC launches a campaign to encourage young women and girls across Western Balkans to choose careers in STEM   Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching a campaign dubbed “Choose STEM future” to encourage young women and girls to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) by bringing forth inspiring role models of successful ...


09 Jan 2023
Women Entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans - economy factsheets information material

Gender statistics play an important role for evidence-based policy making in support of women entrepreneurship. Hence, a thorough review of gender statistics in the Western Balkans, with a specific focus on “women entrepreneurship”, has been commissioned by Regional Cooperation Council. In addition, a sector review for “women in agriculture” has enriched the insights and has been included ...


24 Nov 2022
Looking at Social Ability to Provide Equal Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities news

Sarajevo – In the Western Balkans economies “most of the progress was registered in the areas of inclusion of children with disabilities, especially in the process of deinstitutionalisation of children with disability, inclusive education and support services offered at the community level”, reads the Regional Overview of Western Balkan Economies Regarding the European Pillar of ...


03 Nov 2022
Signing of the three mobility agreements under CRM at Berlin Process Summit agreement

Three mobility agreements under the Common Regional Market were signed by Western Balkans leaders on 3 November 2023 at the Berlin Process Summit. The agreements concern ID travel within the region, recognition of academic qualifications and recognition of qualifications for certain professions. Agreements were signed with the presence of RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu, Ursula von der Leyen, ...


03 Nov 2022
Bregu: It’s done - the three RCC-coordinated centrepiece mobility agreements finally see the light of day to reach those intended for - our citizens news

Berlin – The Heads of Governments of the Western Balkans Six signed the three mobility agreements under the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan’s mobility agendas - on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects – at the Berlin Process ...


28 Oct 2022
WESTERN BALKANS RESEARCH&INNOVATION INFRASTRUCTURE ROADMAP study

In line with the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2021-2024 and the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (WB Innovation Agenda), Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) aims to assist the development of Research and Innovation (R&I) infrastructure by creating the first Western Balkans Roadmap of Research and Innovation Infrastructures (WB Roadmap). WB ...


28 Oct 2022
Compendium on Best Practices in DIASPORA ENGAGEMENT in the Western Balkans study

The purpose of this Compendium is to focus on collecting and systemising information on diaspora engagement practices in the Western Balkans in recent years. This will be achieved by sharing innovative policies, programmes, projects, and business models which have been implemented in the Western Balkans region, all aiming to gain better knowledge of their diasporas, and to strengthen their economic ...


21 Oct 2022
Fact sheet: Agreements on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects information material

The Western Balkans (WB) Foreign Ministers approved three regional agreements - on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists and Architects – at the WB-EU ministerial meeting, organised within the Berlin Process by the German Government in Berlin on 21 October 2022.


21 Oct 2022
All-inclusive regional cooperation and Common Regional Market deliver results news

Western Balkans Foreign Ministers approve 3 regional agreements bringing our region closer together and to the EU  Berlin/Sarajevo – The Western Balkans (WB) Foreign Ministers approved three regional agreements - on Freedom of Movement with Identity Cards, on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications, and on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists ...


28 Jun 2022
Bregu: Having an environment that supports innovation and creativity helps our democracies to be stronger news

RCC Secretary General takes part at the Ministerial Meeting of the Western Balkans Platform on Research and Innovation Tirana – “There is a political decision on when our economies will become full EU member states, but there is also a responsibility all of us carry on how to make our economies closer to the European standards present here in this region. So, for all of us who share ...


28 Jun 2022
Bregu: We hope Butterfly Innovation Award will shine a light on the regional innovation community and its undiscovered potential news

RCC supports research & innovation in the Western Balkans: Six winning innovation ideas from the region awarded at a ceremony in Tirana last night  Tirana – “This spring we launched the first Regional Butterfly Innovation Award. ‘What is now proved was once only imagination’- this Blake’s quote fits perfectly the 154 ideas in six competing categories - largely ...


27 Jun 2022
Speech by the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at the Regional Butterfly Innovation Award ceremony speech

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu opened Regional Butterfly Innovation Award ceremony in Tirana on 27 June 2022, where six winning innovation ideas from the region were awarded. "This spring we launched the first Regional Butterfly Innovation Award. ‘What is now proved was once only imagination’- this Blake’s quote fits perfectly the 154 ideas in six competing categories - largely exceeded ...


26 Jun 2022
RCC to award six best innovative solutions from the Western Balkans news

Supporting the innovation in the Western Balkans: RCC’s Regional Butterfly Innovation Award winners to be revealed on Monday in Tirana  Sarajevo/Tirana – The winners of the first Butterfly Innovation Award competition the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched in April this year are to be presented on Monday, 27 June 2022 in Tirana, Albania, on the side-lines of the Ministerial ...


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer 2022 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

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


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion 2022 survey

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


24 Jun 2022
Balkan Barometer Public Opinion 2022 survey

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


20 May 2022
A Framework for Research Infrastructure Roadmaps report

Research Infrastructure (RI) Roadmaps are critically important policy documents in strategic planning. They serve as a point of reference when planning future scientific development by providing a comprehensive overview of existing research infrastructure capacities. RCC supported the preparation of the first RI Roadmaps in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo* and North Macedonia, given that ...


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

RCC Board endorses organisation’s Strategy and Work Programme 2023-2025 and the Annual Report of the RCC Secretary General Sarajevo - It is very difficult to sugar-coat the severity of economic effects of the war on the Western Balkans. It is equally difficult to accurately predict the true and longer-term impact, or to identify the opportunities for the region along the way. Our ...


12 Apr 2022
HORIZON EUROPE - A Brief Guide for NCPs study

The short guide for National Contact Points (NCPs) in the field of Research & Innovation (R&I) comes at the very beginning of the implementation of the EU programme ‘Horizon Europe’. ‘A Brief Guide’ provides a clear and concise overview of the structure of Horizon Europe, the strategic guidelines and programme objectives, and the allocated budget. In addition, the new concepts of EU Missions ...


31 Mar 2022
Imagine. Innovate. Create: RCC Launches Western Balkans Butterfly Innovation Award news

Butterfly Innovation Award fund at 30,000 EUR - 6 most successful ideas will get 5,000 EUR each Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching a Regional Butterfly Innovation Award seeking innovative, scalable and market-based solutions from the Western Balkans. The Butterfly Innovation Award fund is set at 30,000 EUR, where the best solution in each of the 6 categories ...


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

RCC Board met today for the 45th time since the establishment of the organisation Sarajevo/Tirana – “The times we are living in are not glamorous, on the contrary these are dark moments. We are all heartened and deeply saddened by the unjust war Ukrainian people are going through. The economic impact of the war stretches beyond Ukraine's borders. Concern is present in the Western ...


11 Mar 2022
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the year 2021 page

Blerina Ago, owner of Active Albania Woman Entrepreneur of the year in the category Travel and Hospitality Woman Entrepreneur Blerina Ago is the founder of Active Albania, an innovative tourism company from Albania that offers active holidays in the Western Balkan. With AA, Blerina is ...


24 Feb 2022
Miscevic: Emigration is a major challenge to the Western Balkans, but it could also be a great opportunity news

RCC organized the First Regional Diaspora Forum as a part of Common Regional Market Action Plan's Regional Diaspora Knowledge Transfer Initiative Belgrade – “War risks scrambling the logic of our common endeavour to make the Western Balkans a better region. But let me start with the information that by 2020 more than 4.6 million people have left the Western Balkans. People leave ...


12 Feb 2022
Nomination form page

The nominations are closed! Nominator Name Surname ...


12 Feb 2022
Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year page

What is it about? In the framework of the Common Regional Market Action Plan 2021-2024 and RCC Women Economic Empowerment Agenda, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is launching the Western Balkans Women Entrepreneurs of the Year initiative, one that will ...


07 Feb 2022
Butterfly Innovation & Business Forum page

Its purpose was to assist the emergence of a regional innovation ecosystem and contribute to the development of a supportive innovation culture that promotes success stories. The event featured discussions on innovation infrastructures, access to finance and human capital. The Butterfly Forum presented successful start-ups, established innovative companies and early-stage innovative ...


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

RCC Board meets for the 44th time  Sarajevo – “European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial to all in long-term. It is of highest importance that both the region and the EU deliver on the respective commitments – particularly when we take into account that optimism regarding the time of accession has been declining. ...


06 Oct 2021
Bregu: It is crunch time to deliver on reducing roaming costs between the EU and Western Balkans news

Participants of EU-WB Summit validate Declaration welcoming a roadmap for roaming between EU and WB Brdo pri Kranju/Sarajevo – “As the agendas of regional cooperation build in intensity and challenges get bigger, we witness daily that the process of cooperation among Western Balkan Six cannot afford a stalemate,” said Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Majlinda ...


26 Jul 2021
RCC Secretary General for Montenegrian Vijesti: “Knowing the right people” does not lead to the EU interview

RCC Secretary General gave an interview for Montenegrian Vijesti "We know, Regional cooperation will prevail on the strength of its ideas and ideals, not on the disputes and the name of documents. We know economies of the region will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it must be. We just hope those will be adversarial only when this is inevitable. The prospect of eventual EU ...


21 Jul 2021
Report on the State of Application of Digital Economy Society Index (DESI) in Western Balkan Economies report

The objective of the report is to provide an overview of the state of application of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) methodology in Western Balkans, the availability of datasets for calculating all DESI indicators and identify the responsible institutions for data collection. All with the aim is to identify gaps and needs and to provide short-term recommendations to harmonise the domestic ...


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

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


24 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer 2021 - INFOGRAPHICS information material

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


24 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public Opinion survey

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


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

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


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

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


23 Jun 2021
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion survey

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


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

Western Balkan citizens’ support for regional cooperation and EU integration is growing; employment still causes the biggest concern  Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 2021 edition of Balkan Barometer on Thursday, 24 June 2021, starting at 10:00, in Tirana. This is the 7th edition of annual public and business opinion survey commissioned by the ...


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

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


16 Jun 2021
South East Europe Strategy 2030 report

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


29 Apr 2021
COVID-19 and the World of Decent Work interview

Article on the occasion of 1 May, Labour Day 2021 edition of the International Labour Day: COVID-19 and the World of Decent Work "Around a quarter of youth in the Western Balkans are NEETs – neither in employment, education or training (2019 data). Moreover, out of the total registered unemployed at the end of February 2021, 173,031 are young people, under 24 years, which is more than 12% ...


26 Apr 2021
RCC Secretary General for Fena: As of July 1, roaming costs in the entire Western Balkans will be zero interview

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu spoke to BiH news agency Fena end of April 2021 RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu spoke to BiH news agency FENA end of April 2021. Bregu, among other things, spoke about RCC’s and Western Balkans response to Covid-19 outbreak, challenges the region is facing, such as high unemployment, Regional Roaming Agreement, which will bring zero roaming costs within ...


15 Apr 2021
Bregu: Men outnumber women in the region’s labour force by more than a million news

RCC and UNDP launched Regional Network of Women in STEM  Sarajevo/New York – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched today the Regional Network of Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as part of a RCC-UNDP joint initiative on Women Economic Empowerment (WEE), drawing on the Common Regional Market ...


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.


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

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


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

RCC Board met today for the 42nd time since the establishment of the organisation Sarajevo/Tirana – “The months since our last meeting in October have been difficult with the onset of new Covid-19 waves and new variants of the virus turning things topsy-turvy with a downward spiralling. In terms of regional cooperation, the big good news was the success of the Sofia Summit of the ...


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 ...


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
Balkan Barometer - COVID19 pandemic Impact Assessment Infographics information material

The Balkan Barometer 2020 edition presents for the first time the perception and sentiments on COVID19 pandemic Impact Assessment. COVID19 pandemic Impact Assessment infographics booklet features some of the defining opinions of our citizens and business on jobs, economy and recovery in regard to the COVID 19 pandemic and lockdowns. The entire BB survey is available at www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer


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 ...


19 Jun 2020
Viral slowdown, Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) interview

Article by the RCC SG on the effects of coronavirus on employment in the Western Balkans. "According to ILO estimates, in the second quarter of 2020 the Western Balkans will lose 11.6% of hours worked due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is equivalent to more than 800,000 employment losses and could almost entirely wipe out the gains in employment the region has accumulated since 2012." "While ...


12 Jun 2020
ESAP 2: Undeclared work in the Western Balkans needs to be formalized, to increase both public revenues and social security news

Initiative for Regional Network for Tackling Undeclared Work presented and discussed at the RCC’s ESAP 2-hosted online plenary meeting with representatives of Western Balkans’ Ministries in charge of labour and social policies and enforcement authorities Sarajevo – “The global pandemic caused by the COVID 19 virus has had a profound impact on businesses and workers, as well as economies ...


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
1st of May 2020: Not the Labour Day as We Know It, Article by Nand Shani, Team Leader of ESAP 2 interview

Article on the occasion of 1 May, Labour Day 1st of May 2020: Not the Labour Day as We Know It Coronavirus in the Western Balkans: Testing immunity of the world of work By Nand Shani, Team Leader of Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP 2), implemented jointly by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), funded by the EU


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 Apr 2020
Regional innovation fund could trigger economic recovery of the Western Balkans news

Sarajevo - Following the first Meeting of the Leadership Group (LG) and the kick-off of the Western Balkans Competitiveness and Innovation Accelerator held in Tirana late February, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) continued identifying proposed actions each LG member would like to champion in the future. Policy-makers and businesses from Western Balkans Six ...


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.


21 Feb 2020
Speech by RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at the Western Balkans Competitiveness and Innovation Accelerator kick-off meeting speech

"Without a strategic innovation function that can enhance the capacities to incubate and accelerate the new technologies, companies in this region will continue to stockpiling undeveloped inventions and this will not return in an investment. " The RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu delivered the speech at the Western Balkans Competitiveness and Innovation Accelerator kick-off meeting held on 21 ...


21 Feb 2020
Bregu: Without strategic innovation Western Balkans will not turn inventions into investments – we need to think bigger news

“Beautiful Minds Inspire Others”: Regional Cooperation Council & World Economic Forum to help accelerate competitiveness and innovation in the Western Balkans Tirana – “Without a strategic innovation function that can enhance the capacities to incubate and accelerate new technologies, companies in the Western Balkans will continue to stockpiling undeveloped inventions and this will ...


28 Jan 2020
Bregu: Brain drain the biggest challenge of this decade - Western Balkans working age population declined by more than 400,000 in past 5 years news

Through formalizing undeclared work to more decent jobs in the Western Balkans Regional Conference “Employment - Shades of Grey in the Western Balkans: Regional Perspectives on Creating More and Better Jobs”, marks beginning of the Phase two of the RCC’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project - ESAP 2  Sarajevo – “More than 700 000 jobs have been added to the workforce ...


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” ...


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

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


12 Dec 2019
My experience working informally: Take it or leave it, there are always other workers by Aida Djugum, Radio Slobodna Evropa interview

My experience working informally: Take it or leave it, there are always other workers Personal experience of a woman from Bosnia and Herzegovina who has been working informally for a couple of years, with no employment contract, paid pension or health contributions and with no rights.


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 ...


22 Oct 2019
Shani: BiH and its institutions do their share of work to tackle informal economy interview

Nand Shani, RCC's ESAP Team Leader, spoke for Radio Free Europe on the issue of informal economy. "There are no precise data, but according to the estimates shadow economy’s share in Western Balkans (WB) economies’ GDP ranges between 20% and 30%" "In addition to budgetary implications, countries also lose people over shadow economy because of the lack of opportunities for finding a suitable ...


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 ...


15 Oct 2019
RCC: Western Balkans pay for undeclared work - with significant portion of public revenues, lack of fair competition and decent working conditions news

Regional Workshop in Sarajevo attempting to find a way for structural regional cooperation approach to tackle undeclared work and informal economy in the Western Balkans Sarajevo– “Informal employment is work that is legal in itself but not declared to the authorities for tax, social security and/or labour law purposes. As such, it plays an important role in all Western Balkan economies, as ...


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, ...


15 Sep 2019
RCC: Listen to women – they are the key to unlocking the economic potential of this region news

WE featuring remarkable women from the Western Balkans: RCC’s  campaign continues with Iris Gjinovci  Sarajevo – Statistics show that more than 700.000 new jobs were created in the past 7 years in the Western Balkans, but only 4.3% of these were taken up by youth under 24 years of age.For a young person it takes about 2 years to get a job. “A quarter of a million of young 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 ...


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 ...


14 Jun 2019
Economic growth goes hand in hand with human capital development – investment in education must increase news

RCC and its Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) attended the EU-Western Balkans Stakeholder Conference on Employment and Social Affairs in Luxemburg Luxemburg – “Years in a row our opinion survey Balkan Barometer shows that unemployment is the biggest concern for 67% of the citizens in the Western Balkans (WB), and our alarms should have already gone off, triggering adequate ...


04 Jun 2019
Turdiu: Mobility of students is essential for developing common European values, understanding and appreciation of each other’s’ cultures news

Belgrade – Ministers in charge of education from the Western Balkan (WB) economies have welcomed the Declaration on Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications in the Western Balkans, at the  8th Ministerial  Meeting of the Western Balkans  Platform on Education  and Training organized by the European Commission in Belgrade, 3–4 June 2019 Belgrade, Serbia. The Declaration ...


28 May 2019
Western Balkans Youth Employment in Numbers information material

The brochure "Western Balkans Youth Employment in Numbers" gives an insight into the main indicators on the youth employment in the Western Balkans, including the overall youth employment rate, statistical data, people's sentiment on this issue as well as recommendations on how to improve the youth employment rate in the region.


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 ...


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
Article by Nand Shani, Team Leader of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) interview

In an article "One year of additional schooling raises income by 9 percent", Team Leader of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) Nand Shani talks about the origins of 1 May - International Workers' or Labour Day, about the employment in the Western Balkans, challenges and opportunities the region is facing, achieved results and tasks within the employment ...


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.


26 Apr 2019
RCC’s ESAP: Share of informal employment in Western Balkans ranges from 18 to 33% - holistic approach necessary to tackle this issue news

Sarajevo – “Share of informal/undeclared employment in the region varies from 18,1% in Republic of North Macedonia to 33% in Montenegro1 ,”said Nand Shani, Team Leader of the Regional Cooperation (RCC)’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP). Tackling this widespread phenomenon was the main topic of the workshops, organized throughout the Western Balkans by ESAP in the previous period.  The ...


09 Apr 2019
Bregu: If we want to move forward a new approach to education, promoting skills and supporting creativity is a must news

RCC at the 1st Forum ‘Science and Innovation 2030 Vision for the Western Balkans’ in Montenegro Ulcinj – “If we want to move forward a new approach to education, promoting skills and supporting creativity is a must, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) addressing the participants of the 1st Forum “Science and Innovation 2030 for the Western ...


09 Apr 2019
Western Balkans agrees to create regional database of research infrastructure news

Ulcinj – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) together with the Ministry of Science of Montenegro organised a Regional Workshop on Mapping Research Infrastructure, that took place on 8 April in Ulcinj. The workshop aimed to support the Western Balkan economies in the process of mapping the existing research infrastructure through exchange of practices and experiences. In addition, the participants ...


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 ...


31 Jan 2019
Open Science concept would contribute to Western Balkan societies’ higher return on investment news

Brussels – The Western Balkan (WB) economies presented current situation and actions undertaken in the development of Open Science and Open Access policies for research data at the meeting of the Working Group on Open Science, held under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels, yesterday. The Open Science concept would contribute to WB societies’ higher return on ...


21 Jan 2019
RCC Secretary General: Each negotiation is a story of impact and dialogue for individuals, communities and economies news

4 professions x 4 recognitions: Mutual recognition of four professional qualifications are on the way!  The 2nd round of negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the Western Balkans (WB) for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers started in Skopje today.  The RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu underlined to the Lead Negotiators ...


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 ...


21 Dec 2018
Western Balkan Six kick-off negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications news

Podgorica - The Western Balkan Six (WB6) kicked-off negotiations on an Agreement, which will enable common and shorter procedures for recognition of professional qualifications for Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers. The appointed negotiations teams from the WB6 economies discussed the Draft Agreement on Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Doctors of Medicine ...


13 Dec 2018
Preparations for the next WB6 Prime Ministers Summit continue at the 4th Meeting of Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications in the Western Balkans news

Sarajevo - The 4th meeting of the Joint Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) and Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) took place in Sarajevo today.   The leaders of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) have recognized the importance of development of automatic recognition procedures of the academic qualifications ...


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

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


14 Nov 2018
RCC organizes training of teams for negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the Western Balkans news

Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) concluded a two-day training session for the negotiations teams who will conduct the negotiations on the Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications of Doctors of Medicine, Dentists, Architects and Civil Engineers between the 6 Western Balkan economies (WB6) in Tirana today. The training was the first step in the negotiations ...


30 Oct 2018
Western Balkans agree to step up the work on research infrastructure news

Sarajevo – Six Western Balkan (WB6) economies agreed to step up their work on research infrastructure in the region. Specifically the WB6 agreed to develop policies to open access to the existing research infrastructures (RIs) for researchers from the region, to cooperate in development of national RI Roadmaps as a basis for a regional map of RIs, and to kick off joint work on a WB6 online ...


29 Oct 2018
RCC ESAP: Supporting exchange of experience on development and implementation of sector budget support news

Skopje – Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supported the visit of the Albanian delegation from the Ministry of Economy and Finance to Skopje today. The Albanian delegation visited their peers to share their experiences in the development and implementation of sector budget support as The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has ...


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.


08 Oct 2018
Western Balkan Six open negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications of doctors of medicine, dentists, architects and civil engineers news

Brussels – The Western Balkans began the negotiations on mutual recognition of professional qualifications of doctors of medicine, dentists, architects and civil engineers at the 1st meeting of Lead Negotiators convened by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Brussels today. The expected outcome of the negotiations is to conclude a Mutual Recognition Agreement, which will establish common ...


05 Oct 2018
Local Employment Partnerships in Focus of Regional Peer Review Workshop news

Sarajevo/Tesanj/Prnjavor - Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organised a regional 3-day Workshop on Local Employment Partnerships that started in Sarajevo and continued with field visits to municipalities of Tesanj and Prnjavor that ended today. The Workshop, hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina, gathered representatives of the Ministries ...


31 Jul 2018
Pristina: ESAP helps Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to develop its monitoring framework news

Pristina – In the period April-July 2018, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) through its Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) helped the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Kosovo* to develop the strategy monitoring tools and increase their capacity to plan and perform a monitoring process, including reporting and feedback on the progress in the implementation of the ...


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.


17 Jul 2018
Initial Statement on the Horizon Europe Proposal by Western Balkan Six declaration/decision

The Initial Statement on the Horizon Europe Proposal represents the initial joint position of Ministries responsible for Science of the Western Balkan Six on the European Commission proposal for Horizon Europe. The preparation of the Statement has been facilitated by the Regional Cooperation Council which was tasked to communicate the Statement to the relevant European Institutions.


17 Jul 2018
Horizon Europe should contribute to closing research & innovation EU-Western Balkans gaps news

Western Balkan Six propose recommendations ahead of the adoption of the EC’s research and innovation Horizon Europe programme Sarajevo - Following the conclusions of the meeting of the Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development (R&D) that took place in Brussels on 13 June 2018, the ministries responsible for science of the Western Balkan Six, prepared and issued an ...


12 Jul 2018
RCC's ESAP: Albanian Public Employment Service visits their colleagues in Pristina news

Pristina – Upon request of the representatives of the Albanian Public Employment Service (PES), the Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project, within its technical assistance facility, took the Albanian PES on a study visit to their PES colleagues in Pristina. The study visit, led by the Nand Shani, ESAP Team Leader, started by the opening ...


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 ...


26 Jun 2018
Western Balkans endorses key principles on recognition of academic qualifications news

Brussels – Ministers in charge of education from the Western Balkan economies endorsed a set of key principles on automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the region at the 7th Ministerial meeting of the Western Balkans Platforms on Education and Training & Research and Innovation, organised by the European Commission (EC), in Brussels today. These principles build upon the work of ...


20 Jun 2018
Brussels: RCC's ESAP presents Western Balkans employment and labour market trends and developments news

Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council' s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) Project presented in Brussels today employment and labour market trends and developments in the Western Balkans (WB). The policy discussion gathered representatives of WB Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES), European Commission’s Directorates-General for Employment, Social Affairs ...


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 ...


19 Jun 2018
RCC’s Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project: Joint actions to enhance performance and promote mutual learning among Western Balkans Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services agreed news

Brussels - Representatives of the Western Balkans (WB) Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) met in Brussels today, within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP), to discuss main trends and challenges in employment and labour markets in the region, as well as key outcomes of regional cooperation ...


14 Jun 2018
Initial steps towards mutual recognition of Academic Qualifications in Western Balkans made by Joint Regional Working Group news

Brussels – Joint Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) has initiated steps towards recognition exercise for the Western Balkans (WB) as well as an online system to support fast-track recognition between Western Balkans economies, at its 3rd meeting held in Brussels today under auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) & Education Reform Initiative of South ...


13 Jun 2018
RCC: Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development meets in Brussels news

Brussels – The meeting of the Western Balkans Working Group on Research and Development (R&D) took place in Brussels on 13 June 2018. The participants focused on the possible participation of the Western Balkans in the Horizon Europe, which is the EC's proposal for a € 100 billion research and innovation funding programme for seven years period (2021-2027).          ...


08 Jun 2018
RCC’s ESAP Project and Western Balkans’ Public Employment Services invited to present their joint work at Annual Meeting of the EU PES Network news

Sofia – Western Balkan’s Public Employment Services (PES) gathered around Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) Project were, for the first time ever, invited to participate as observers in a 9th Annual Meeting of the European Union’s  (EU) PES Network, that took place in Sofia, Bulgaria 7-8 June 2018. On the 2nd day of the EU PES ...


31 May 2018
Peers from Ministries' of Labour and PES from the region talk about youth employment news

Herceg Novi – Representatives of the Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) offices from the Western Balkan (WB) economies together with relevant regional and international experts in the field, shared experiences and discussed youth employment programmes at the regional peer-review workshop, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs ...


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
RCC’s ESAP helps Employment Agency in Pristina in drafting their Rules of Procedure news

Pristina – During a two months period at the beginning of 2018, the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) provided expert support in drafting the rules of procedure of the Advisory Board of the newly established Employment Agency of Kosovo*. ESAP also assisted this Employment Agency in the development of internal rules of procedure ...


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

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


23 Apr 2018
RCC’s ESAP help Montenegro Employment Agency in upgrading their Information Technology System news

Podgorica – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP)provided technical assistance to the Employment Agency of Montenegro in upgrading the Information Technology System in accordance with the European Employment Service (EURES) requirements. The EURES, as a cooperation network, is designed to facilitate this movement is of great relevance ...


12 Apr 2018
RCC with EC Organize Workshop on Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans news

Ljubljana - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DGJRC) of the European Commission co-organised a joint Workshop on Governance of Smart Specialisation (S3) and Training on Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) in the Western Balkans, which was held at Technology Park in Ljubljana on 11-12 April 2018.  The Western Balkans Leaders have ...


12 Apr 2018
ESAP: Self-employment programmes in the Western Balkans discussed in Pristina news

Prishtina – Representatives of Ministries of Labour and Public Employment Services (PES) from the Western Balkans discussed self-employment programmes at a two-day regional workshop within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project, held in Prishtina on 11-12 April 2018. Nand Shani, Team Leader of the RCC’s ESAP highlighted ...


27 Mar 2018
Exploring models for automatic recognition of academic qualifications in Western Balkans and working on design of a joint exercise and online system for recognition of academic qualifications in Western Balkans news

Podgorica - The Joint Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) adopted the Group’s Terms of Reference and the Plan of Work, at their second meeting jointly organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) in Podgorica on 26 March 2018. The RCC team briefed the participants on the progress in implementation ...


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 ...


30 Jan 2018
Vocational Training Centres analyse their legal framework with RCC’s ESAP assistance news

Pristina – Regional Cooperation Council's (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) project provided technical assistance to Vocational Training Centres in Kosovo* in analysing their current legal framework and the documents related to vocational training, and proposed a concept for service contracts or Public-Private Partnership arrangements that could be a flexible ...


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 ...


29 Dec 2017
RCC's ESAP assists Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in Pristina to establish an integrated information system news

Pristina – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), through its Employment and Social Affairs Project (ESAP), provided a support upon request of Kosovo* on establishing an integrated information system in the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. ESAP analysed the current systems and databases and proposed a concept for the new system, including detailed procedures for its implementation ...


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 ...


15 Dec 2017
The WB 6 Start Work on the Model for Automatic Recognition of Academic Qualifications news

Belgrade – By formalising the Joint Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe (ERI SEE) – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Working Group on Recognition of Academic Qualifications (WG RAQ) the Western Balkans Six (WB6) have officially started its work on finding the model for automatic recognition of academic qualifications in the region. The 1st formal meeting of the WG RAQ took place ...


06 Dec 2017
Regional Workshop on Smart Specialisation in Research and Development news

Brussels – Workshop on Smart Specialization for the Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial Working Group organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) was held in Brussels, on 6 December 2017.                    The meeting participants, coming from the Ministries responsible for R&D and innovation met with the representatives ...


05 Dec 2017
Representatives of the Western Balkans presented developments in Open Science and Open Access policies in their economies together with EU Member States news

Brussels - Representatives of the Western Balkans presented developments in Open Science and Open Access policies in their economies together with EU Member States at 5th meeting of the EU network of National Points of Reference on Scientific Information (NPR) in Brussels, on 5 December 2017. The NPRs are tasked to co-ordinate the measures listed in the Recommendation on access to and preservation ...


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.


22 Nov 2017
RCC, ETF continue building human capital in the region news

Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, and newly appointed Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF), Cesare Onestini, signed an agreement on continuation of cooperation between the two organisations, in Brussels today. Svilanovic expressed satisfaction with earlier cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of skills ...


01 Nov 2017
National Workshops on Public Employment Services Benchlearning kick-off in Pristina news

A series of 12 workshops, two per each of the Western Balkans six economies, on Public Employment Services (PES) benchlearning, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employments and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP), kicked-off in Pristina today.  “With limited PES resources, there is an increasing need to demonstrate the value of PES interventions for money. Comparing ...


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 ...


18 Aug 2017
Sarajevo Film Festival: Heart of Sarajevo for the best student film goes to Neven Samardzic for the film ‘Clean’ news

Sarajevo – Bosnia and Herzegovina’s film ‘Clean’ (‘Čistoća') was awarded with the 'Heart of Sarajevo' as the Best Student Film of the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), at the official ceremony in Sarajevo last night. This award is being given under the patronage of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).  “On behalf of the Regional Cooperation Council I would like to congratulate ...


12 Aug 2017
Sarajevo Film Festival: Competition for Best Student Film kicks-off news

Sarajevo – The competition for the 'Heart of Sarajevo' for the Best Student Film of the 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), award under the patronage of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), officially kicked off today.  “The Regional Cooperation Council is very happy to be the international partner of the Sarajevo Film Festival this year. We are tremendously satisfied to be the patrons ...


10 Aug 2017
RCC patron of the 1st Sarajevo Film Festival's Best Student Film Award news

Sarajevo – This year the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the international partner of the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) 2017 and patron of the 'Heart of Sarajevo' award for the Best Student Film. The Student Film has been introduced in the competition programme of the SFF for the first time.   Aiming to fuel regional cooperation in the field of youth creativity and art the RCC has ...


18 Jul 2017
Representatives of Western Balkan Public Employment Services discuss qualitative benchmarking news

Tivat - Representatives of Western Balkan Public Employment Services (PES) met in Tivat today to discuss qualitative benchmarking, in the framework of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) regional project.   The aim of the meeting was to present the preliminary analysis of quantitative indicators, discuss the details and milestones ...


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 ...


06 Jul 2017
Working Group on Open Science meets in Brussels and explores e-infrastructure possibilities in the region news

Brussels – Regional Working Group on Open Science met in Brussels today. It mapped the existing e-infrastructure and made plans for further development in the Western Balkan economies, in order to support further development of the e-infrastructure in the region. The meeting outlined the strategic context of Open Science in Europe and the key role of the e-infrastructure development in the European ...


01 Jul 2017
RCC patron of the 1st Sarajevo Film Festival's Best Student Film Award page

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the international partner of the Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) 2017 and patron of the 'Heart of Sarajevo' award for the Best Student Film. The Student Film has been introduced in the competition programme of the SFF for the first time.   Aiming to fuel regional cooperation in the field of youth creativity and art the RCC has opted to support the ...


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 ...


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 ...


10 May 2017
RCC's ESAP Project assists Montenegro in preparing the new Labour Law news

Kolasin – Employment and Social Affairs Platform Project (ESAP) of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) supported the Montenegrin Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare by providing technical input and assistance to a national workshop on preparing the new Labour Law. ESAP, through its expert advice, presented the experiences of the European Union (EU) in the transposition of its directives ...


06 Apr 2017
Skills and Mobility information material

Brochure on RCC’s flagship ‘Skills and Mobility’, 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 globally competitive base of knowledge and skills in South East Europe; unhindered movement of people, students, researchers and workforce, allowing for increased employment opportunities ...


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.


21 Feb 2017
Skopje: ESAP co-organises National Consultative Meeting on the Employment and Social Reform Programme news

Skopje – The Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) provided support to a National Consultative Meeting on the Employment and Social Reform Programme, held in February 2017 in Skopje.  The support was carried out through the assistance in organisation of the national consultative event, after the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs ...


16 Dec 2016
Sarajevo hosts first regional ‘Skills Show’ of high school students news

Sarajevo – The first regional Skills Show, aiming to link commercial and education sectors in order to improve the overall quality of education in the region, motivate young people to choose vocational schools and ultimately influence the increase of the employment rate, kicked-off in Sarajevo today. The two-day event will merge the format of professional conference, fair representation of employers ...


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 ...


10 Nov 2016
RCC with Western Balkan economies presented regional Open Science agenda at 4th EU meeting on Scientific Information news

Sarajevo/Brussels – Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and representatives of seven Western Balkan economies presented their draft plan of activities for the next period and the latest developments in the field of Open Science at the 4th meeting of the network of National Points of Reference on Scientific Information (NPR) of EU member states and the European Commission in Brussels, on 10 November 2016. ...


27 Oct 2016
Western Balkan's public employment services agree on concrete actions to enhance their work news

Belgrade/Sarajevo – Representatives of public employment services (PES) of the Western Balkan economies agreed on concrete steps and actions envisaging future cooperation under the Employment and Social Affairs Platform (ESAP) project  at their first  meeting that took place in Belgrade, today. These actions imply current practices and tools that PES offices in the Western Balkan economies ...


06 Oct 2016
Western Balkans Joins the European Open Science Agenda news

Seven Western Balkans’ economies joined the European Union (EU) family in pursuing the EU Open Science Agenda at the Open Data and Access in Science meeting organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on the margins of the International Open Data Conference (IODC) on 6-7 October 2016.  Under auspices of the RCC representatives of Ministries in charge of science from Albania, Bosnia ...


14 Sep 2016
Researcher mobility and open science contributing to research excellence news

Ways to commercialise technology transfer and step up collaboration between universities and private sector discussed at Western Balkan Research and Innovation Center’s workshop A workshop on successful facilitation of technology transfer and commercialization of research results in the Western Balkans, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Western Balkan Research and ...


29 Jun 2016
ILO and RCC launch project for better labour market governance in the Western Balkans press release

Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will work together to further regional cooperation in order to achieve more effective labour market governance in the Western Balkans. The new joint project, funded by the European Union, was launched in Sarajevo today and presented by Goran Svilanovic, RCC Secretary General, Antonio Graziosi, ...


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 ...


10 Mar 2016
European Training Foundation award for RCC news

The European Training Foundation (ETF) has recognized RCC’s efforts towards the ETF’s Entrepreneurial Communities Initiative with a special award yesterday. In its capacity as an Advisory Board member, the RCC has - in the past two years - contributed to the selection of ten good practices along with the ETF partner countries. The focus in the selection of the Entrepreneurial Communities, ...


01 Mar 2016
Three million euro for boosting jobs in the Western Balkans press release

Brussels - The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will jointly create a Western Balkans Platform on Employment and Social Affairs in the framework of a new European Commission funded project signed today in Brussels. The 3 million Euro project, “Economic and Social Affairs Platform” (ESAP), will be jointly implemented by the ILO and the RCC ...


18 Sep 2015
Western Balkans gets Research and Innovation Centre press release

Western Balkans ministers of science signed in Split today an agreement on establishment of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre (WISE), gathering Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo*, and The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. “RCC has been your partner in this endeavour since the very beginning and we will remain to do so in our committed ...


17 Sep 2015
Split to become headquarters of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre press release

Research and innovation as a basis of economic growth First Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia Vesna Pusić will open the ministerial conference on the occasion of establishment of the Western Balkans Research and Innovation Centre (WISE) tomorrow in Split. Together with the hosts, Vedran Mornar, Minister of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia; Goran Svilanovic, Secretary ...


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 ...


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 ...


29 Apr 2015
RCC: Regional programmes in culture and creative industries are an enormous potential for overall development of societies news

Eleventh meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS) ended in Durres, Albania, today. Importance of the regional programmes developed under the Culture and Creative Sectors dimension were brought to the attention of policy decision makers at the joint meeting of the TFCS and National Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) Coordinators ...


25 Mar 2015
Labour Mobility as a Factor of Development in South-East Europe study

This study is a result of a strategic partnership between the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It aims to inform the regional consultative process on enhancing labour mobility in the region.


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

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


21 Aug 2014
RCC and Sarajevo Film Festival’s round table on “Regional cooperation in the audio visual sector” press release

SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Sarajevo Film Festival are organizing this Friday a round table on regional cooperation in the audio visual sector. This round table, on the margins of the Sarajevo Film Festival, aims to re-confirm the consensus and commitment of the RCC Western Balkans members to contribute and develop further the regional programme for the audio-visual ...


28 Jun 2014
Joint South East European initiative presented to UNESCO press release

OHRID/SARAJEVO - The Ministers of Culture of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia handed over a joint nominations dossier to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Secretary General, Irina Bokova. The “Stećci Nomination Dossier” represents an unprecedented example of regional cooperation in the field of culture and is a joint official ...


28 May 2014
Implementation of two EU grants for rehabilitation of Western Balkans cultural heritage almost completed news

The ninth meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS), marking the entering into the final phase of implementation of the Ljubljana Process II – Rehabilitating Our Common Heritage, ended in Ulcinj, Montenegro, today.  The meeting presented the final phases of implementation of the European Commission’s 500,000 euro grant for sustaining ...


02 Apr 2014
RCC’s SEE 2020 Strategy: Regional Action Plan for implementation of Western Balkans Research and Development Strategy for Innovation adopted news

Under the guidance of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, the Steering Committee of representatives of ministries of science from the Western Balkan countries, adopted in Split today the Regional Action Plan for 2014, defining specific activities for implementation of the Western Balkans Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation. The R&D Strategy ...


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.


25 Feb 2014
EU invests 100,000 euro in rehabilitating 8 cultural heritage sites in Western Balkans through RCC Task Force; more funds to follow press release

SARAJEVO/PODGORICA – 100,000 euro worth works on rehabilitating eight cultural heritage sites in four Western Balkans countries have been completed, informed the meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Task Force on Culture and Society that ended in Podgorica, Montenegro, today. The sites in question are: Summer Residence of King Aleksandar Karađorđević in Han Pijesak, Bosnia ...


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%, ...


25 Oct 2013
Western Balkan Countries Develop Joint Strategy for Innovation-Based Economic Growth press release

ZAGREB – The Western Balkans Regional Research and Development (R&D) Strategy for Innovation was adopted today in Zagreb by the ministers of science from the region during the ministerial meeting on regional R&D. Research and innovation are at the heart of the European Union's (EU) strategy for growth and jobs – the Europe 2020 Strategy – as they are important drivers of economic ...


25 Oct 2013
Western Balkans Regional R&D Strategy for Innovation report

The strategy was endorsed by the ministers of science from the region, in Zagreb, on 25 October 2013. It was supported by the World Bank, the Regional Cooperation Council and the European Commission.


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 ...


09 Sep 2013
RCC to present South East Europe 2020 strategy for creating 1 million jobs in the region press release

SARAJEVO – The first draft of the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 strategy for creating one million new jobs in the region will be presented in Skopje tomorrow. The document is being prepared by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, in close consultation with governments and initiatives from South East Europe. The basic goal of the SEE 2020 strategy is to improve living conditions ...


17 Jul 2013
Interview by Senior RCC Expert on Building Human Capital and Cross Cutting Issues, Mladen Dragasevic, to BH Radio 1 interview

In the audio interview Senior RCC Expert on Building Human Capital and Cross Cutting Issues speaks about the RCC Task Force on Culture and Society and its projects, and featuring the South East Europe (SEE) 2020 growth strategy.


15 Jul 2013
Three Western Balkans heritage sites chosen for a €2.8 million EU funding, says RCC meeting press release

SARAJEVO/NOVI SAD, 15 July 2013 – Three Western Balkans sites have been chosen for a €2.8 million worth EU-funded project to support preservation and restoration of cultural heritage in the region, the European Commission announced today at a meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society, held in Novi Sad, Serbia. “European Commission decided on three ...


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.


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.


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 ...


08 Mar 2013
Address by RCC Secretary General Goran Svilanovic at a meeting of the European Association of Public Service Media in South East Europe speech

The meeting was hosted by Radio-Television Slovenia, in Ljubljana, on 8 March 2013.


07 Feb 2013
Speech by Head of RCC Expert Pool, Jelica Minic, on behalf of RCC Secretary General on the occasion of receiving International Peace Centre Sarajevo (IPC)’s traditional award ‘Sloboda’ (Freedom) speech

The International Peace Centre (IPC) Sarajevo awarded the RCC for the organization’s outstanding role in developing euro-regional cooperation in South East Europe and for the creation of a stable and safe atmosphere for economic and social development.


13 Nov 2012
Museums network in South East Europe established at RCC-organized ministerial conference in Skopje press release

SARAJEVO/SKOPJE – South East European Museums Network, which will enhance cross-border cooperation between these cultural institutions, was established at a ministerial conference held in Skopje today. The ministers of culture adopted a joint statement, enabling the Network to foster cooperation among national museums in South East Europe, and to develop projects at regional and international ...


12 Nov 2012
Preservation of cultural heritage in South East Europe in focus of Skopje meeting, held under RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO/SKOPJE – Funds for rehabilitating South East European cultural heritage, including a 2.8 million euro worth project, will be presented at a meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society, which began in Skopje today. “The 2.8 million Euros will be used for concrete works in restoring two or three cultural heritage sites in South East Europe, taking ...


03 Oct 2012
Lifelong learning and non-formal adult education in South East Europe focus of RCC, dvv international conference in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – The conference Lifelong Learning and Non-formal Adult Education in South East Europe will discuss ways to build knowledge-based society in the region by increasing participation in adult learning, in Sarajevo, tomorrow. The meeting is being co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Head Office for South East Europe of the Institute for International ...


19 Jul 2012
Final Report on the First Academy on Media Law in South East Europe, with conclusions report

The Academy took place in Zagreb, Croatia, on 3-8 June 2012, with participation of media law practitioners from all of the countries in South East Europe as well as from relevant international organisations. It aimed at safeguarding media freedoms by enhancing regional cooperation and by building capacity of media lawyers to use the best national media laws and practices in the region in line with ...


28 Jun 2012
RCC Task Force on Culture and Society meeting agrees to reinforce protection of cultural heritage in South East Europe news

The Third Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society (TFCS) ended today in Prčanj, Montenegro, with an agreement to finalize the establishment of Ljubljana Process national task forces, necessary for implementing the project ‘Sustaining the Rehabilitation of Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans’. It is expected that the 500,000 EUR worth project ...


25 May 2012
RCC-supported conference discusses higher education in Western Balkans news

A two-day international conference in support of higher education reform in Western Balkans ended in Petrovac, Montenegro, today. The event discussed the role of professional administrators and public-private partnerships in developing higher education systems in the region, as well as new institutionalised arrangements for regional cooperation. The conference dubbed ‘Towards Joint Regional ...


22 Feb 2012
RCC, European Parliament to bring together Western Balkan parliamentarians to discuss environmental policy, in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – The European Union (EU) environmental policy and Western Balkans environmental trends and perspectives will be the topic of a two-day parliamentary seminar hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, on 23-24 February. The event, co-organized with the European Parliament (EP), will discuss the EU Environmental Policy and the environmental aspects of its ...


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
Head of LSE institute to speak about perceptions of crisis-struck Europe, sign agreement with RCC, in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – The impact of the current euro-zone crisis on perceptions of ‘Europe’ will be the topic of a lecture by Professor Kevin Featherstone, Head of the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), to be held at the Sarajevo School of Economics and Business (EFSA), tomorrow. The lecture Images, meanings, and legitimation: Is the European story changing? ...


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 Nov 2011
Western Balkans’ research and development strategy project launched in Belgrade, with RCC support press release

BELGRADE/SARAJEVO – A two-year project to develop a strategy for regional dimension of Research and Innovation cooperation in the Western Balkans has been launched today, in Belgrade, Serbia. The event was organized by the World Bank, in cooperation with the European Commission and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. It was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of ...


06 Oct 2011
First training of South East European education inspectors concludes in Montenegro today, supported by RCC press release

DANILOVGRAD/SARAJEVO – The first regional training of education inspectors ended today at the Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA) in Danilovgrad, Montenegro. The event focused on the role of inspectors in quality assurance and sustainable Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education policies; vocational education training in schools; and priorities in national ...


28 Sep 2011
Directors general of South East European public media to sign cooperation protocol in Sarajevo, with RCC support press release

SARAJEVO – Directors general of 13 public service broadcasters from South East Europe, supported by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), will sign a protocol on regional cooperation in Sarajevo on Friday, 30 September. The Protocol on Regional Cooperation in Education and Training among members of the European Association of Public Service Media in ...


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.


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.


11 Jul 2011
RCC organizes preparatory meeting for ministerial conference on Western Balkans strategy for research and development news

Zagreb hosted a preparatory meeting today for the Ministerial Conference on Regional Strategy for Research and Development for Innovation for Western Balkans, to be held in November 2011. The event was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. Participants discussed four mid-term objectives of the Strategy: improving policy-making, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, ...


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.


23 Jun 2011
Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society constituted in Cetinje today press release

CETINJE/SARAJEVO – “The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society will promote cooperation in preserving the cultural heritage of South East Europe”, said Hido Biscevic, RCC Secretary General, at today’s constitutive meeting of the Task Force in Cetinje, Montenegro. “It will bring benefits to communities and encourage social reconciliation and cohabitation, ...


21 Jun 2011
Regional Cooperation Council Task Force on Culture and Society to begin work in Cetinje press release

CETINJE/SARAJEVO – The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society will be opened on Wednesday, 22 June 2011, at the premises of the Montenegrin Ministry of Culture, in Cetinje. The opening of the Secretariat will be marked by a concert of the Chamber Orchestra of the Montenegrin Music Academy, followed by a cocktail reception. The RCC Task Force ...


15 Jun 2011
Final Declaration of the 9th Conference of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Presidents of Parliament declaration/decision

The document was adopted at a meeting in Becici, Montenegro, on 14-15 June 2011.


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.


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, ...


22 Mar 2011
Article by Radio Free Europe featuring Regional Cooperation Council’s activities interview

The article reports on the meeting on the role of national parliaments in Western Balkans and Turkey in negotiations for EU accession, co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat and the European Commission’s Enlargement Directorate-General on 17-18 March in Sarajevo.


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).


17 Mar 2011
Address by the Deputy RCC Secretary General, Jelica Minic, at the regional meeting on the role of national parliaments in negotiations for the EU accession speech

The meeting of parliamentarians from Western Balkans and Turkey took place in the premises of RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 17-18 March 2011.


16 Mar 2011
Role of Western Balkan parliaments in EU accession to be debated in Sarajevo, under RCC and EC auspices press release

SARAJEVO – Role of national parliaments in Western Balkans and Turkey in negotiations for EU accession will be discussed at a meeting hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, on 17-18 March. The event, co-organized with the European Commission’s Enlargement Directorate-General, is prepared under the framework of the European Union’s Instrument for Pre-Accession ...


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, ...


24 Feb 2011
Role of parliaments in legislative process and government oversight discussed in Sarajevo, under EP and RCC auspices press release

SARAJEVO – A two-day seminar on the role of parliaments in the legislative process and in the government oversight in Western Balkans will wrap up in Sarajevo today at the premises of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. Members of Western Balkans parliaments and of the European Parliament (EP) are taking part in the event co-organized by the EP and the RCC Secretariat. The ...


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

BECICI/SARAJEVO – A protocol on the host country arrangements for the Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society was signed this evening by Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Milan Rocen, and RCC Secretary General, Hido Biscevic, in Becici, Montenegro. The Task Force Secretariat will be based in Cetinje, Montenegro. It ...


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

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


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

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


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.


21 Oct 2010
Conclusion of the regional conference ‘The Role of Inspectors in Education Quality Assurance in South East Europe’ meeting document

This regional event, that took place on 20-21 October 2010, in the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo, discussed the inspectors’ contribution to modernizing educational systems in South East Europe.


19 Oct 2010
Inspectors to seek ways of improving quality of education in South East Europe, with RCC and OSCE support press release

SARAJEVO – Role of inspectors in education quality assurance in South East Europe will be in focus of a two-day regional conference that will open in Sarajevo tomorrow, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. This first-of-its-kind event, co-organized with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, will discuss the inspectors’ ...


29 Sep 2010
International conference on higher education reform concludes in Dubrovnik today press release

DUBROVNIK/SARAJEVO – A three-day international forum on higher education reform ended today in Dubrovnik, Croatia, agreeing to focus on a strategic development of Western Balkans’ education capacity over the next 10 years, in the context of the EU higher education area. The International Forum on Higher Education Reform Foresight 2020 was organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) ...


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.


16 Sep 2010
Regional Cooperation Council’s Task Force on Culture and Society established today news

A Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society has been established today, by the decision of the Organization’s 28-member Board, which met in Sarajevo. The RCC Task Force, with a Secretariat based in Cetinje, Montenegro, will take over the coordination of activities envisaged by the second phase of Ljubljana Process – a project of rehabilitation of cultural sites throughout ...


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.


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

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


09 Mar 2010
Public research institutes instrumental to upgrading Western Balkans competitiveness, concludes regional workshop press release

ISTANBUL/SARAJEVO – The role of public research institutes in technological development of the Western Balkan countries is instrumental to upgrading the competitiveness of the region, participants of a two-day South East European workshop agreed in Istanbul today. The event, which ended today, was co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Scientific and Technological ...


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 ...


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


29 Oct 2009
Sarajevo conference on higher education in Western Balkans to open at Regional Cooperation Council tomorrow press release

SARAJEVO – A two-day conference on higher education ‘Building Capacity for Change in the Western Balkans’ will tomorrow open in Sarajevo at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat. The event is organized by the RCC Secretariat, in cooperation with the Universities of Novi Sad, Sarajevo and Zagreb. The aim of the meeting, which is the third one in a series of biannual conferences ...


22 Oct 2009
OECD, RCC bring together policy makers and experts in Sarajevo to increase parliamentary involvement in better business regulation in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – Policy makers and experts from South East Europe (SEE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) gathered today at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo to streamline co-operation between parliaments and governments in order to develop a more attractive and competitive business environment in SEE. The debate took place within the ...


08 Oct 2009
RCC Secretariat hosts 1st Working Group Meeting of Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe news

The 1st Working Group Meeting of the Education Reform Initiative of South East Europe (ERI SEE) concluded today at the RCC Secretariat in Sarajevo. The two-day event gathered representatives of education ministries from South East Europe. The Working Group is tasked to come up with a module for future functioning of the Initiative, including its legal status, financing, internal rules, scope ...


30 Sep 2009
RCC to support stronger women entrepreneurship in South East Europe press release

SARAJEVO – A regional project aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship in South East Europe (SEE), focusing on expansion and job creation of women-owned businesses, will be launched at a stakeholders meeting at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo tomorrow, 1 October. The aim of the project is to address three key obstacles to the growth of women entrepreneurship: ...


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 ...


06 Sep 2009
RCC to gather experts on regional research and development strategy for the Western Balkans, in Sarajevo press release

SARAJEVO – An expert meeting on developing the Regional Strategy for Research and Development for the Western Balkans will be held on Monday, 7 September 2009, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo. The meeting is a follow-up to the Ministerial Conference organized in Sarajevo on 24 April 2009 by the RCC Secretariat and the Czech Republic. The aim of the follow-up ...


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”.


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“.


24 Apr 2009
Education, research and innovation key to Western Balkans development, region’s ministers agree in Sarajevo today press release

SARAJEVO – Western Balkans ministers agreed today in Sarajevo to launch preparations of a regional research strategy, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Czech Presidency of the European Union. The region’s ministers of science and research made the commitment at the Ministerial Conference “Developing Regional Research Strategy for the Western ...


22 Apr 2009
Ministerial conference launching regional research strategy to be held in Sarajevo on Friday press release

SARAJEVO – A ministerial conference to launch a regional research strategy for the Western Balkans will take place in Sarajevo, on Friday, 24 April. The event will be co-hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and the Czech Presidency of the European Union. The Ministerial Conference “Developing Regional Research Strategy for the Western Balkans” is expected to adopt ...


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 Jun 2008
Task force on building human capital in South Eastern Europe launched press release

LJUBLJANA/SARAJEVO – A regional Task Force on Fostering and Building Human Capital in South Eastern Europe was launched in Ljubljana yesterday, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). The aim of the Task Force is to promote coherency and coordination between education, higher education, research and science in South Eastern Europe (SEE) by creating a platform for dialogue ...


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