Interviews/Articles/Speeches
Speech by RCC Secretary General at the Conference on Labour Migration: Supporting Economic Growth in the Western Balkans
15 MAY 2025 | SPEECH
RCC Secretary General opened Amer Kapetanovic opened High-level Conference on Labour Migration: Supporting Economic Growth in the Western Balkans, held in Budva, Montenegro on 15 May 2025.
Addressing the urgent need for a collaborative transition and the Western Balkans' need to shift from fragmented, reactive migration policies to a coordinated, strategic framework for labour mobility that effectively balances retaining local talent with attracting ethical, well-managed labour immigration to tackle workforce shortages and drive regional growth and EU integration, Kapetanovic said: “Labour migration is no longer something we can plan for tomorrow, it is already reshaping our societies today. In just five years, the number of work permits issued to foreign workers in the Western Balkans has more than doubled, from 46,000 in 2018 to over 100,000 in 2023. At the same time, employers across the region are struggling to fill vacancies, while our own citizens remain in demand abroad. This dual reality calls for smart, inclusive, and human-centred policies. At RCC, we believe migration done right can bridge skills gaps, energise our economies, and restore dignity to work. That’s why we are investing in regional frameworks that align with EU standards, protect workers’ rights, and give people, whether they were born here or just arrived, a fair chance to build a life."
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Op-ed by RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic: Dignity at Work in the Age of Disruption
30 APRIL 2025 | ARTICLE
The Op-ed by RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović reflects on International Workers’ Day as a call to uphold the dignity of work amid the profound transformations reshaping the global labor landscape. It highlights how technological disruption, green transitions, and AI are challenging traditional work structures and blurring work-life boundaries, necessitating a redefinition of workers’ rights and conditions. Focusing on the Western Balkans, the piece acknowledges economic improvements like rising employment but warns of deep-seated issues such as talent outflow, skills mismatches, informal labor, and policy gaps. Ultimately, it argues that ensuring dignified, fair, and meaningful work is essential not just for economic resilience but for preserving human dignity in a rapidly changing world.
Keynote speech by RCC SG at the “Advancing EU enlargement: Italy’s role and strategic convergence on the Western Balkans’ integration” conference
15 APRIL 2025 | SPEECH
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic gave keynote speech on challenges ahead of the enlargement at the conference dubbed “Advancing EU enlargement: Italy’s role and strategic convergence on the Western Balkans’ integration” held in Rome on 15 April 2025.
Among other things, Kapetanovic said: "“In times when the very idea of a united Europe is tested, the Western Balkans offers a rare commodity as a living proof of how far we can go thanks to EU enlargement soft-power magnetism.
But Western Balkans cannot afford to be in Europe's waiting room. We must become a functional extension of the European Single Market. That is what Common Regional Market is all about. But the more we wait, the greater are the chances to turn this soft power in to a hard disappointment. This is a moment to see Western Balkans not as a region of problems, but as a region of partners. A region that is ready, able, and willing to contribute to Europe’s resilience, security, and prosperity.”
The conference was organized by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa and Istituto Affari Internazionali.
Download: EN
Speech by the RCC Secretary General, Amer Kapetanovic, at the 2025 ESG Adria Summit
09 APRIL 2025 | SPEECH
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic delivered a keynote speech focused on advancing regional cooperation as a key to the European future of the Western Balkans.
Among other things Kapetanovic said: “The latest Balkan Barometer shows that 82% of Western Balkan citizens support regional cooperation. That number speaks for itself – people recognise that when we work together, standards rise, markets open, and opportunities multiply. We have come a long way — from a fragmented landscape to the beginnings of a Common Regional Market. This is not just a bureaucratic term. It is a roadmap of how we move forward — step by step, reform by reform, result by result. It is not optional, but necessary. Regional cooperation is not a warm-up act – it is the main show. It’s a bridge to the EU single market and a stepping stone to integration, a foundation for our future.”
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RCC Secretary General for publication "Connecting The Region"
08 APRIL 2025 | INTERVIEW
In the interview, Amer Kapetanovic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), underscores the RCC’s focus on creating tangible benefits for citizens and businesses through initiatives that advance both regional integration and sustainable development. Kapetanovic emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation to access EU Growth Plan funds, highlighting successes like the elimination of roaming charges and the boost in trade. He also addresses the region's progress on the Common Regional Market and the green and digital transitions, stressing the need for political commitment and the challenge of tackling issues like youth migration, poverty, and inequality.
The entire interview is available on the link, pg 82-83
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RCC Secretary General for portal Oslobodjenje
20 MARCH 2025 | ARTICLE
Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic as part of portal Oslobodjenje's article dubbed The Berlin Process is a bridge to the EU: How much progress have we made?” talked on Berlin Process deliverables, Common Regional Market, Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, region's EU integration path and more.
Download: BS
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARIAT for the period 01 October 2024 – 28 February 2025
12 MARCH 2025 | REPORT
Report on the activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 01 October 2024 – 28 February 2025 was presented by the RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic at the 55th RCC Board meeting on 12 March 2025.
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RCC Secretary General for Skopje-based Alsat TV
02 MARCH 2025 | INTERVIEW
Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic in a TV interview on Skopje-based Alsat TV’s "Programi 200" discussed the importance of regional cooperation, the tangible benefits it has brought to citizens, RCC’s future plans, the current geopolitical landscape, and efforts to strengthen cooperation across Southeast Europe.
RCC Secretary General for A2 CNN TV
02 MARCH 2025 | INTERVIEW
Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic in a TV interview for Tirana-based CNN exclusive news channel affiliate A2 TV’s "Off the Record" with Andrea Dangli on Common Regional Market’s tangible benefits for the Western Balkan citizes, RCC’s future plans, the current geopolitical landscape, and efforts to build regional cooperation across South East Europe.
Download: SQ
RCC Secretary General for Montenegrin Vijesti
05 FEBRUARY 2025 | INTERVIEW
Montenegrin new portal Vijesti piblished an intervju with the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapetanovic.
"Larger market means more people, more options, better self-regulation which could lead to lower prices", said Kapetanovic highlighting the benefits of implementing the Common Regional Market.
Entire interview is available on the links below.
Speech by RCC Secretary General as a guest lecturer at Faculty of Political Science of University of Sarajevo
03 FEBRUARY 2025 | SPEECH
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic was a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science of University of Sarajevo on 3 February 2025.
Lecture was titled: Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: Walking the Talk – Regional Cooperation in Action.
Kapetanovic’s speech highlighted the critical need for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans to drive economic growth and EU integration. He reflected on key milestones that have shaped the region’s progress, emphasizing that the importance of significant results—such as ID-based travel, a roaming-free zone, and increased trade—have been achieved, deeper transformation is still needed. The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, backed by €6 billion from the EU, offers a unique opportunity for the region to integrate economically before full EU membership. However, this requires governance reforms, a stronger rule of law, and a commitment to digital and green transitions. Kapetanovic also stressed that cooperation is not just political—it is essential for creating jobs, retaining talent, and securing a prosperous future.
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Speech by RCC SG at Empower. Integrate. Grow. Conference panel titled “Moving Forward: Supporting Regional Integration and Integration with the EU”
28 JANUARY 2025 | SPEECH
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic’s speech at the high level "Empower. Integrate. Grow." conference held in Becici on 28 January 2025 highlighted the Western Balkans' commitment to deeper regional and EU integration through the Common Regional Market 2.0 (CRM 2.0). He emphasized three strategic pillars: Empowering the Region, by investing in human capital, workforce mobility, and innovation to curb brain drain and enhance competitiveness; Integrating Economies, by removing trade barriers, improving the business climate, and boosting sustainable investments; and Growing Together, by accelerating digital transformation, expanding connectivity, and aligning with EU digital standards. Kapetanovic urged collective action to harness the region’s potential, ensuring a competitive, sustainable, and future-ready Western Balkans.
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RCC Secretary General for N1
10 JANUARY 2025 | INTERVIEW
In his first TV appearance as a Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapatanovic spoke at the live TV show "Dan uzivo". Kapetanovic spoke about the importance of regional cooperation, concrete benefits for the citizens of our region it yielded so far, and RCC's plans for the future, but also on the fact that RCC is not only about the Western Balkans Six, but about enhancing cooperation in the entire South East Europe.
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Statement By RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanovic
03 JANUARY 2025 | STATEMENT
Statement by Amer Kapetanovic on the occasion of taking the office of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
on 3 January 2025
Download: EN