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05 Dec 2023
WBYL: THIRD INFORMAL DONOR COORDINATION MEETING ON YOUTH AGENDA upcoming activity

After successful First Informal Donor Coordination Meeting on Youth Agenda which served as a stepping stone towards Broad Coalition on Youth and Second Informal Donor Coordination Meeting where Joint Communique on Youth: Western Balkans Co-creating Future with Youth as Agents of Change was presented and WBYL Online Donor Database was launched, RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab (WBYL) is organizing ...

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 ...

21 Jun 2023
Young People from the Region Present Their Own Visions and Plans on How to Improve Youth Mental Health news

Belgrade – Thirty young people and policy makers from the entire Western Balkans presented the outcomes and recommendations that have emerged from their diligent efforts to address youth mental health in their economies at the Final Conference on Youth Mental Health, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s EU-funded Western Balkans Youth Lab Project (WBYL), in Belgrade today. “According ...

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, ...

25 May 2023
RCC Board approves organisation’s Annual Report 2022/23, and adopts Financial Report 2022 news

Regional Cooperation Council Hosts 49th meeting of RCC Board Sarajevo – The participants of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board approved the organisation’s Annual Report 2022/23 and adopted the Financial Report 2022 at their 49th meeting held in Sarajevo today. The Annual Report 2022/23 is expected to be endorsed at the RCC Annual Meeting and adopted at the SEECP Ministerial ...

28 Apr 2023
WB Youth Lab supported dialogue between Members of Parliament and civil society from the Western Balkans in Brussels news

From 25 to 27 April 2023, the Bridging the Gap initiative promoted dialogue between civil society and elected representatives from the region and from the European Union. The event was co-organized by the European Parliament's Mediation and Dialogue Support Unit and the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations together with the ...

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 ...

15 Nov 2022
WB Youth Lab: Youth working on mental health policies to build the region as an environment of care news

RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab Project hosts Mid-Term Conference on Mental Health in Pristina Pristina – “Deteriorating mental health among youth during pandemic led to multiplied negative effects in the long run, which was an alarm to act. We have made first steps towards bridging the gap between the mental health needs and the policy solutions. Cooperation, innovative approach, ...

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 ...

14 Jun 2022
RCC Youth Lab Project hosts the final conference on youth employment in the Western Balkans news

Budva/Sarajevo – “Inadequate employment opportunities are one of the biggest problem young people face. One in 3 young persons are unemployed, which means the Western Balkans youth unemployment rate is almost double the EU rate of 17%. According to Balkan Barometer 2022 – 18 out of 100 Western Balkan citizens worry about the brain drain, while 5 year ago that number was 10. But, ...

13 Jun 2022
Brochure: Western Balkans Youth Lab: Youth Lab on Unemployment Milestones information material

Brochure captures milestones of Western Balkans Youth Lab on youth unemployment policies in the region.

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 ...

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 ...

11 Apr 2022
Youth Lab on Mental Health page

The Regional Youth Meeting in June 2021 gathered 17 leadership representatives of National Youth Council and Youth Umbrella Organisation from WB6 who decided that the topic of the Second Youth Policy Lab is to be mental health.  The Regional Pool of Experts dealing with the issue of mental health made 13 regional recommendations envisaging the ways to raise mental health awareness, support ...

11 Apr 2022
Youth Lab on Unemployment page

After extensive consultations with youth and policymakers in the region, youth unemployment was chosen to be the focus of the First Regional Thematic Youth Policy Lab. Youth and policymakers have undergone training in each economy on the Methodology and Model following which the Regional Pool of Experts was established and had the chance to share their views during online training sessions organised ...

11 Apr 2022
Participation of Western Balkans youth in regional and international events page

WBYL project supports the active involvement of the youth participants and provides an opportunity for networking and building connections among National Youth Councils and Youth Organizations Umbrellas with public administrations. So far, 146 young people was supported to participate at Prespa Youth Forum (North Macedonia) on 1 July 2021, Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia and Herzegovina) ...

11 Apr 2022
Strengthening National Youth Councils in the Western Balkans page

Youth Lab Project established procedures and prepared documentation necessary for deploying Technical Assistance to meet the needs of national administrations and Capacity Building to meet the needs of youth organizations. Up to now, concrete support has been requested 23 times in order to address the immediate needs of the beneficiaries. Technical Assistance, requests for support have been provided ...

11 Apr 2022
Western Balkans Youth Policy Labs page

Youth Policy Lab brings a participatory and youth centred approach to policy-making processes. It provides a safe space for youth to participate on equal basis with policymakers and engage meaningfully in policy development, policy evaluation or policy revisions based on the principles of co-management and co-production. It is an approach which provides opportunity for decision-makers to better ...

07 Apr 2022
WBYL: Giving Western Balkans’ youth an insight into the best EU practices and standards is a base for future regional transformative policies news

RCC’s WBYL brought Western Balkans youth to Ljubljana and Zagreb for Mini-Mobility Scheme Ljubljana/Zagreb – “The best way to exchange knowledge and practice and to hear and see first-hand what it makes for successful and strong youth cooperation is to bring youth from the Western Balkans’ National Youth Councils or Youth Umbrella Organisations to the EU to witness work ...

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 ...

24 Feb 2022
WBYL: YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, NEET EMPLOYABILITY, AND YOUTH CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN SERBIA survey

Research on Youth entrepreneurship, NEET employability, and youth career management skills in Serbia provides the analysis of key issues related to strengthening youth employability and youth policy institutional framework with regard to the introduction of the Youth Guarantee piloting in Serbia. It contains recommendations for the policy makers focusing particularly on the youth policy stakeholders.

19 Feb 2022
Youth are the ones whose opinions lead to progress of the region news

RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab organized Regional Youth Meeting with youth co-chairs in Skopje Skopje - “Western Balkans Youth Lab project is based on the inputs of Western Balkans youth and throughout the Project we have included young people in every step of the process. Now seeing you co-chairing the processes on equal footing with policy-makers shows us that we have focused on ...

05 Feb 2022
Western Balkans Youth and the Future of Europe; Op-Ed by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu article

Op-Ed by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu on the Western Balkans youth and their potential to be a part and create a future of the European Western Balkans. "Reality in which youth live today is specific, marked by the rapidly transforming era of the fourth industrial revolution, a changing and precarious labor market, and a pandemic unprecedented in modern ...

16 Dec 2021
WBYL: Policy Recommendations by Regional Pool of Experts on Mental Health meeting document

Policy Recommendations co-created by the Regional Pool of Experts consisting of youth and policy-makers from the Western Balkans at the Kick-Off Event of the Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health

16 Dec 2021
Joint Communique on Youth: Western Balkans Co-creating Future with Youth as Agents of Change information material

Joint Communique on Youth: Western Balkans Co-creating Future with Youth as Agents of Change, as our agreement on the shared values, principles and way forward by the Broad Coalition on Youth.

16 Dec 2021
Second Informal Donor Coordination Meeting on Western Balkans Youth Agenda held in Sarajevo news

Sarajevo – “Youth accounts for 21.27% or more than 20% of our entire population. They are our present and our future and I believe that all of us have to give our best to make sure that they stay in and contribute to this region now and in the years to come,” said Maja Handziska Trendafilova, Head of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Programme Department, at the opening of the Second ...

10 Dec 2021
Closing remarks of the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu at the Kick Off event of Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health speech

Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu gave spoke to almost 50 youth representatives from the region, as well as policy makers and representatives of the European Commission at the closing of the Kick Off event of Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health, which took place in Tirana on 9-10 December 2021.

10 Dec 2021
Bregu: By risking the youth potential we are risking the engine of a sustainable regional future news

RCC’s Youth Lab on mental health brings out regional recommendations  Tirana/Sarajevo – “Statistics tell us that two thirds of young people would be willing to emigrate; that the total education costs of people who leave the region in one year vary from 840 million to 2.46 billion EUR; and that about one fifth are unemployed and nearly a quarter are neither in employment, ...

09 Dec 2021
RCC: Western Balkans Youth Lab on Mental Help kicks off in Tirana news

Tirana – The Youth Lab on Mental Health, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Western Balkans Youth Lab Project (WBYL), has kicked off in Tirana today.    “After unemployment, health issues were the second most quoted problem youth is facing today, according to RCC’s Balkan Barometer survey. Only one fifth of young respondents expressed satisfaction ...

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

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

25 Nov 2021
Bregu: Being Europeans is not written in DNA but what you believe and fight for news

Italy in partnership with the RCC hosted youth from all the Europe at EU-Balkan Youth Forum in Rome Rome/Sarajevo - “It’s not breaking news any longer that our youth is leaving the region. One out of 3 youngsters, age 18-24, in the Western Balkans confirms that they are ready to leave their homeland. We should understand the message – their choice of destination shows what’s ...

22 Nov 2021
WBYL: Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health - Regional Pool of Experts information material

RCC Western Balkan Youth Lab (WBYL) presents Regional Pool of Experts dealing with the issue of mental health. Youth Policy Lab on Mental Health is incorporating the principles of co-management and co-production. Young people and policymakers from the Western Balkans will share power in managing and implementing the space where policies are developed, as well as in undertaking tasks to achieve ...

18 Nov 2021
Video podcast: RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on regional cooperation speech

RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on priorities RCC is we are working on: EU-WB roaming, mental health and WB Green Agenda

26 Oct 2021
Youth-Tailored Solutions Require Youth Participation news

RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab Project held its Mid-Term Conference on Youth   Unemployment  Sarajevo/Online – “Cooperation, innovative solutions, equality, participation - these are the things we need today more than ever, as we establish an environment in which youth and policy makers sit together to constructively explore the ways in which youth priorities and ...

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

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

28 Sep 2021
YOUTH POLICY LAB METHODOLOGY information material

The issues which Western Balkans youth is facing have been under increased attention over the last couple of years, both at the level of each economy and as a part of the high-level dialogue taking place between the WB and the EU. Similar to the European institutions

28 Sep 2021
YOUTH POLICY LAB MODEL information material

The Youth Policy Lab is a flagship initiative within RCC’ Western Balkans Youth Lab project funded by the European Union that aims to provide opportunities for youth to participate in decision-making. Based on the conclusions of Sofia EU-Western Balkan Summits held in 2018 and 2020, Youth Policy Lab is designed to provide a safe space for youth, enabling young women and men to work jointly and at ...

07 Sep 2021
Bregu: It is time for youth to be louder and play smarter news

Western Balkans Youth Lab Project: RCC Secretary General meets youth from North Macedonia Youth Council  Skopje – “I would highly encourage you to leave the region. Yes, go abroad and see other cultures, but come back. Only by learning from others we can make our region better place for all of us and make a change. That is why we do not want to invent algorithm, but to make youth ...

06 Sep 2021
Talking Points by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Majlinda Bregu at the First Annual Conference of the Ministry of Finance “Economic Recovery and Growth Beyond Covid” speech

Talking Points by Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu at the panel on Global and Regional Challenges and Prospects of Recovery and Growth at the First Annual Conference of the Ministry of Finance “Economic Recovery and Growth Beyond Covid”, held in Skopje on 6 September 2021

06 Sep 2021
Bregu: RCC to launch regional coalition on jobs and skills to keep youth in the region news

RCC Secretary General in Skopje at the First Annual Conference of the Ministry of Finance “Economic Recovery and Growth beyond Covid” Skopje – “There is still high interest of youngsters to stay in the region. And this is our advantage. They are our greatest asset. They are the engine driving regional cooperation and EU accession because they see the opportunities and ...

13 Aug 2021
Bregu: Cooperation between youth is crucial for the future of the region news

RCC championing Sarajevo Film Festival’s 'Heart of Sarajevo' award for the Best Student Film for the 5th time in a row Sarajevo - For the 5th time in a row the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the patron of the 'Heart of Sarajevo' award for the Best Student Film at the 27th Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF), opening today and lasting until 20 August.  “Tough ...

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
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, ...

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

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

16 Jun 2021
South East Europe Strategy 2030 report

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

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

Participants of the RCC Annual Meeting endorse SEE2030 Strategy and RCC Annual Report  Antalya – “Last year, ruled by the pandemic has definitely showcased the extent of our interconnectivity and interdependency and demonstrated that in cooperating, we boost our strengths and resilience. It is clear that regional socio-economic integration is crucial for regional development. ...

31 May 2021
Bregu: With regional youth unemployment rate at 35.1% the need to act is clear, as youth is our most precious asset news

RCC’s ESAP Project presents Study on Youth Employment in Western Balkans  Sarajevo/Online – “Youth and jobs has not been a good combination in the Western Balkans for some time. The average regional youth unemployment rate in 2020 was 35.1%, which is more than double the European Union (EU) rate of 16.9%. Some of it can be blamed on the COVID 19 pandemic that stopped job ...

19 Apr 2021
Bregu: 93% of young people in the Western Balkans believe public administrations should involve young people in decision-making news

First Informal Donor Coordination Meeting on Youth Agenda kicked off today  Sarajevo, Tirana – “According to Balkan Barometer 2021, 93% of young people in the Western Balkans age 18-24 believe that public administrations should strengthen mechanisms for consulting and involving young people in decision-making. This clearly shows the path for all our further actions in which youth, ...

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.

26 Jan 2021
Youth Policy Lab Draft Working Group Rules of Procedure information material

The Regional Cooperation Council’s Western Balkan Youth Lab project produced Youth Policy Lab Draft Working Group Rules of Procedure, which represents the proposals for the Rules of Procedure for the Working Groups at economy level in regard to the Model on Youth Policy Labs and regional policy recommendations stemming from the Thematic Regional Youth Policy Lab on Youth Unemployment held in December ...

11 Jan 2021
Mapping of Youth Policies and Identification of Existing Support and Gaps in Financing of Youth Actions in the Western Balkans report

This report provides a comparative analysis of the youth policies, funding mechanisms, participation, and donor interventions in the area of youth in the Western Balkans six economies (WB6). In addition, the comparative report outlines a mapping of donor programs in the area of youth across the region and provides a brief overview of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

10 Jan 2021
WBYL: Policy Recommendations by Regional Pool of Experts on Youth Unemployment meeting document

Policy Recommendations co-created by the Regional Pool of Experts consisted of youth and policy-makers from the Western Balkans at the Kick-Off event of the Youth Policy Lab on Youth Unemployment

14 Dec 2020
Bregu: Instead of creating policies FOR youth we believe in co-creating policies WITH youth news

Sarajevo/Tirana/Brussels - “Youth makes 21% of Western Balkans population. If we know that youth unemployment in the Western Balkans is over 35%; that it takes around 2 years for a young person to land the job after the school; that 25% of youth are not in employment, education and training; or that 71% of our youth are thinking to leave the region and find jobs abroad – than it is clear ...

09 Dec 2020
Western Balkans Youth Lab Factsheet information material

Within RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab, EU funded, project regional pool of experts consisted of youth and policy makers from the Western Balkans will work within RCC’s WB youth lab project on creating solutions for issues related to youth unemployment and youth participation.

09 Dec 2020
Pool of Experts of the first Regional Youth Lab information material

The Youth Policy Lab is a flagship initiative within RCC’ Western Balkan Youth Lab project funded by the European Union that aims to provide opportunities for youth to participate in decision-making. Based upon conclusions of Sofia EU-Western Balkan Summits held in 2018 and 2020, Youth Policy Lab is designed to provide a safe space for youth, enabling young women and men to work jointly and at equal ...

03 Sep 2020
Youth Lab Capacity Building Guidelines information material

The Capacity Building Instrument is a mechanism of the Western Balkans Youth Lab Project (hereinafter: WBYL) that aims to complement regional activities with additional support to the National Youth Councils, where they are established, and Youth Umbrella Organisations, where youth council at the central level is absent, in order to help their transformation and advance their role in contributing towards ...

03 Sep 2020
Youth Lab Technical Assistance Guidelines information material

The Technical Assistance Instrument is a mechanism of the Western Balkans Youth Lab Project (hereinafter: WBYL) that aims to complement regional activities with additional support to the Project beneficiaries in order to strengthen their policy and administrative capacities in the different stages and processes related to the youth policy development and implementation and participation of youth in ...

20 Aug 2020
Heart of Sarajevo for the Best Student Film 2020 goes to Zeynep Dilan Süren for “The Great Istanbul Depression” news

The Best Student Film Award Powered by RCC since inception of this competition category Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is delighted to confirm that the young director Ms Zeynep Dilan Süren from Turkey with the movie “The Great Istanbul Depression” won the Heart of Sarajevo for the Best Student Film, an award Powered by RCC since the inception of this competition category ...

16 Aug 2020
Miscevic: We need to focus on helping resolving issues young people are facing in order to keep them in our region news

Sarajevo Film Festival: RCC Deputy Secretary General hosts a panel with young filmmakers from the region Sarajevo – “I am happy the RCC put youth and resolving issues they are facing, especially related to their career developments, and jobs in focus, with our EU-funded Youth Lab project that was launched beginning this year, but also through a series other activities, including our support ...

10 Aug 2020
Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the RCC on 1st edition of Balkathon and future plans in an interview for Albanian Business Magazine interview

"Encouraging innovative ideas, promoting digital solutions and creating room for the introduction of new ideas are the daily efforts on the part of RCC, its mindset not only in terms of thinking but also in terms of acting. It goes without saying that Covid-19 did provide an incentive, for instance when realizing how much more the private sector was using digital solutions. The Regional Cooperation ...

03 Jul 2020
Youth Unemployment in the Western Balkans: Youth is Crucial in Designing of Employment Policies news

RCC’s Western Balkans Youth Lab and Employment and Social Affairs Platform Projects organized webinar tackling policymaking and youth unemployment in the region  Sarajevo – “Numerous stories of unemployed young people across the region who want the leave in pursuit of a job and better life are loud and yet also seem silent.  That is why the Western Balkan Youth ...

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
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 ...

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

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

19 May 2020
RCC presents its new “Western Balkans Youth Lab” Project: It’s time to change– young people should take the lead news

Acting by example: 20% of RCC employees are young people - 5 joining us in the past 2 months Sarajevo – The Western Balkans not rarely offers shocking facts about youth. From brain drain to labour migration, from mismatch of diplomas with labour market, prejudices or steep unemployment figures. We have decided to act by example. About 20% of all employees in the Regional Cooperation Council ...

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 ...