Sofia – Participants of the 18th Annual Meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), held today in Sofia and cochaired by the RCC and the Bulgarian Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), endorsed the RCC Annual Report, taking note of RCC’s work in advancing regional cooperation, supporting European integration, and delivering practical results for citizens and businesses across South East Europe.

The Annual Meeting gathered RCC participants and partners ahead of the SEECP Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the SEECP Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Opening the meeting, RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said that the past year confirmed the importance of regional cooperation as a strategic tool for addressing shared challenges and positioning South East Europe in a rapidly changing European and global context.

“The RCC Annual Report reflects a year of intensive work to turn regional commitments into concrete progress. But it also comes at a moment when our region needs more urgency, more strategic focus and a clearer compass for the future. In a world shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, climate-related disasters, demographic decline, brain drain, financing pressures and evolving security risks, cooperation is no longer a choice of diplomatic convenience. It is one of our strongest assets for positioning South East Europe as a more resilient, competitive and connected region. Our focus now must be on implementation, results and investment — on regional initiatives that make cooperation visible and useful to citizens, businesses and institutions,” said RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović.

“Regional cooperation in South East Europe is built on trust, and a forward-looking region is essential for our shared European future. The RCC has consistently provided a regional backbone for cooperation, serving as a highly effective platform for dialogue and joint action. The review of the RCC Annual Report and the SEE2030 Strategy comes at a timely moment, allowing us to take stock of progress achieved and reflect on the way forward. Bulgaria remains committed to the SEECP guiding principles and to supporting a region that is more competitive, better connected and greener,” said Velislava Petrova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

“The world around us is becoming more unpredictable, and enlargement is one of the ways to protect our shared security. This is why it is important to have the Western Balkans firmly anchored in the European Union. The window of enlargement is open to those who deliver reforms, and the Common Regional Market is an important part of that process, helping the region prepare for deeper integration into the EU Single Market while improving people’s lives. The place of the entire Western Balkans is in the European Union,” said Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement.

RCC participants used the discussion to exchange views on regional priorities, underscoring the need to maintain momentum in delivering concrete results through regional cooperation.

Alongside the Annual Report, participants also approved the SEE2030 Strategy Mid-Term Implementation Report and SEE 2030 Strategy Mid-Term Update, reaffirming the region’s commitment to the Strategy’s original ambitions and headline targets, while adapting its implementation to a changed regional and global context. The Update sharpens the focus on resilience and human security, inclusive growth and stronger regional cooperation, with greater emphasis on practical regional initiatives, investment mobilisation and engagement with the private sector.

The 18th RCC Annual Meeting concluded with RCC participants reaffirming RCC’s role as a platform for regional dialogue, coordination and delivery of shared priorities across South East Europe. Romania is expected to assume the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office following the Sofia Summit, carrying forward the region’s cooperation agenda in the period ahead.