Interviews/Articles/Speeches
"Call from a Region in My Mind" : Bridging the Gap – The Roaming Revolution in the Western Balkans
02 OCTOBER 2023 | ARTICLE
RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu's Op-ed on beginning of reduction of mobile data costs between the European Union and Western Balkans.
"The journey to this milestone began with the entry into force of Roam Like At Home regime in the Western Balkans in July 2021, based on the Western Balkans Regional Roaming Agreement. It is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the European Commission (EC), and telecommunications operators from the EU and Western Balkans. A year-long negotiation process, facilitated by the RCC and EC, has borne fruit.
It is a real change for both citizens from this region and our beloved ones living in the EU. It empowers both EU and WB citizens to bridge distances; it represents a profound shift in the way we connect with Europe. It is part of a thread intricately woven into the fabric of the Europeanisation of our countries."
Radio Free Europe article dubbed "I Dream of Bihać and Bosnia’: Bosniaks from Prizren waiting to travel to BiH without visas" featuring statement by RCC Secretary General
28 OCTOBER 2022 | ARTICLE
‘I Dream of Bihać and Bosnia’: Bosniaks from Prizren waiting to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina without visas - Radio Slobodna Evropa article on three mobility agreements featuring statements of Western Balkans citizens and RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu.
Euronews article featuring statement by RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu
02 MARCH 2022 | ARTICLE
Euronews published an article dubbed "Could Ukraine kick-start the EU's stalled enlargement plan?" featuring statements by the RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on the Western Balkans enlargement process in the light of the latest circumstances in Ukraine and Europe.
Full article in English is at a link bellow.
In addition, find excerpts of the article featuring statements by the RCC SG in Albanian and Bosnian language.
Western Balkans Youth and the Future of Europe; Op-Ed by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu
05 FEBRUARY 2022 | 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 history. In this and other issues, it should not be our goal to understand young people – it should be to give their inputs, priorities and recommendations adequate space in policy-making and public discussions. In 2022, the European Year of Youth carries a promise to do just that."
Western Balkans Calling: We are Roaming Free; Op-ed by the Secretary General Majlinda Bregu
30 JUNE 2021 | ARTICLE
Op-ed by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu on the occassion of Roaming Free Western Balkans setting intro force on 1 July 2021.
"Delivering on promises: It took just over 2 years to move from signing the Regional Roaming Agreement to roam free across the region. And today is the difference that makes the difference."
Article by Gazeta Si, featuring RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu and results and successes of the Regional Cooperation Council
19 MARCH 2021 | 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.
Op-Ed: Women’s empowerment is essential to Western Balkans’ efforts to build back better from the pandemic
11 FEBRUARY 2021 | ARTICLE
By Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and
Mirjana Spoljaric, Regional Director for UNDP’s Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
My “whack a mole” questions on Innovation, Op-ed by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General
19 FEBRUARY 2020 | ARTICLE
RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on the necessity of investing in innovation as the engine of the economic growth in the region: "I am still wandering how good we, from this region are in finding the needle in the haystack of vast pools of innovation and technology?
The right needle I mean, the one that can help us spot anomalies in this global reshape of economies, called 4th industrial revolution?!
What novelty is fit for us to help our region change dramatically from a laggard in innovation into a competitive one and get more from these “game of zones” in technological upshift?"
The air pollution is killing us: Article by the RCC Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu for FENA News Agency
16 JANUARY 2020 | ARTICLE
In the article for FENA News Agency, the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu reiterates the importance of addressing the air pollution in the region, as it continuously jeopardises health and wellbeing of the citizens. Many Western Balkans cities occupy the tops of the lists of the most polluted cities in the world and decisive actions to mitigate air pollution are necessary.
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
20 DECEMBER 2019 | 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 together. I call this a potential for future, for further strengthening of cooperation, for reconciliation in the region.
Download: EN
Climate change does not need Schengen visa, Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
16 DECEMBER 2019 | ARTICLE
RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on burning issue and challanges of climate change and Green Agenda in the Western Balkans: "We need to do more to raise awareness among the citizens that each and every one of us, including children, can and should make a difference. We truly are in this together, whether you like to admit it or not. The small steps also count – reducing plastic containers, minding the trash to keep our rivers, mountains, fields, forests clean, properly treat waste, turn to domestic foods, print less…a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. "
The article was published in the European Western Balkans https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2019/12/16/climate-change-does-not-need-schengen-visa/
"A clean, well-lighted place", article by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General, for Bled Strategic Times
02 SEPTEMBER 2019 | 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 focus on the differences rather than seeing the world through the lenses of cooperation, we are simply welcoming an unacceptable risk."
Entire magazine is available at the following link https://www.bledstrategicforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Bled-Strategic-Times-2019.pdf. The article by Majlinda Bregu is on page 10.
Article by Majlinda Bregu, RCC Secretary General, for Euromoney's Global Markets magazine
08 MAY 2019 | ARTICLE
Article by Majlinda Bregu, the RCC Secretary General on economic prospects of the Western Balkans in the 8 May 2019 issue of Euromoney's Global Markets magazine.
“Standing on the gateway between the eastern and western part of the world, the region can serve as a safe harbour for investments whilst enabling easy access to the global market”.
Roaming free? Downloading... Article by Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council
01 APRIL 2019 | ARTICLE
Regional Roaming Agreement for the Western Balkans: "It means you would be able to speak, SMS or surf more, wherever in the region you find yourself in, and pay much less. No more worries about making sure that your data is off when you cross the border."
Download: EN