Documents & Publications
Balkan Barometer Public Opinion 2022
24 JUNE 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 established as a reliable source of regional data widely employed and referenced by media, business, civil society and decision-makers alike.
Balkan Barometer is commissioned by the RCC and financed by the European Union.
Download: EN
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion 2022
24 JUNE 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 mid February to mid-March 2022.
Balkan Barometer is commissioned by the RCC and financed by the European Union.
Download: EN
Balkan Barometer 2022 - INFOGRAPHICS
24 JUNE 2022 | 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 of Western Balkans citizens and businesses on prevailing issues facing the region.
The entire BB survey is available at www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer
Download: EN
REGIONAL RESPONSE IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY: RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2023–2025
09 JUNE 2022 | 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 integration, green and digital transformation, while reducing the poverty and narrowing the existing social, economic, and environmental divergences with the European Union.
The SWP 2023-2025 serves as the main mid-term plan to prioritise RCC’s activities in line with RCC’s objectives defined by the Statute and the SEE 2030 Strategy, which focuses on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the regional approach.
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USEIN FOR BiH'S NEWPIPE: "UNEMPLOYMENT AND LACK OF DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS ARE STILL MAJOR ISSUES FOR ROMA IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA"
01 MARCH 2022 | INTERVIEW
Orhan Usein, Head of Office of RCC's Roma Integration project spoke to BiH's portal Newpipe on Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Working in the informal economy is still a major issue. According to estimates, the formal employment rate for Roma in Bosnia and Herzegovina stands at only between 11 and 13 per cent. Another estimate states that 63% of all Roma workers are not registered and are working undeclared, which means that they cannot claim any rights coming out from the labour laws. Unfortunately, here too we lack clear statistical data and are actively working with governments to establish measuring. Another priority addressed by the Action Plan relates to inadequate and segregated housing – where there is still much more work left ahead before we can call ourselves done. However, our recent experience in Serbia could be easily replicated in Roma neighbourhoods throughout the region. In close cooperation with the local authorities, we managed to provide assistance for legalisation of 50 Roma households. Therefore, we are looking forward to expanding this activity to Bosnia and Herzegovina too", said Usein amongst other things.
Full interview published in English and Bosnian is on links below.
Interview with Orhan Usein for 360 Stepeni: "We all pay the price for Roma exclusion"
14 FEBRUARY 2022 | INTERVIEW
"Antigypsyism and discrimination for Roma start from an early age, when Roma kids are enrolled in school and often put into special or segregated schools or classes. And it is happening in the entire region, and wider. In the 21 century, in the middle of democratic societies, in Europe, we are dividing kids based on their ethnicity – isn’t that disturbing? It continues with forced evictions of Roma families without offering them a proper solution and alternative housing, discrimination at work and in health and public institutions. We recently had police brutality over Roma, as well as ethnic profiling at the borders. All of this should be brought to an end", said Orhan Usein, Regional Cooperation Council Roma Integration, Head of Office, amongst other things, in his interview for portal 360 Stepeni.
The full interview is available on the links below.
Hate speech spreading faster from social media, Orhan Usein urges governments to combat antigypsyism
13 DECEMBER 2021 | INTERVIEW
On the occasion of marking the International Day of Human Rights, marked on 10 December, Euronews Albania spoke with Mr Orhan Usein, Head of Office of the Regional Cooperation Council’s Roma Integration Project
RCC Secretary General Introductory remarks on the occasion of the launch of Balkan Barometer 2021
24 JUNE 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, and for the second year in a row it includes topics concerning a challenging regional COVID-19 induced landscape.
More about the Balkan Barometer can be found here: https://www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer/
Download: EN
Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public Opinion
24 JUNE 2021 | 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 regional COVID-19 induced landscape.
Download: EN
Balkan Barometer 2021 - INFOGRAPHICS
24 JUNE 2021 | 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 of Western Balkans citizens and businesses on prevailing issues facing the region.
The entire BB survey is available at www.rcc.int/balkanbarometer
Download: EN
Balkan Barometer Business Opinion
23 JUNE 2021 | 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 regional COVID-19 induced landscape.
Download: EN
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2020-2021
16 JUNE 2021 | REPORT
This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2020 – April 2021. 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 General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2020-2021 has been adopted at the SEECP Summit held in Antalya on 17 June 2021. The document was adopted with reservation of Kosovo*.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
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South East Europe Strategy 2030
16 JUNE 2021 | 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.
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Report on the Activities of the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat for the period 1 October 2020 – 1 March 2021
29 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.
Download: EN
Orhan Usein, Head of Office of the RCC's Roma Integration project for Euro News Albania
14 DECEMBER 2020 | INTERVIEW
"We still witness violations of human rights of the Roma population – police brutality, segregated schools and housing, discrimination within different public institutions, including health care providers, which is especially concerning at this time when the world is facing a pandemic. Are we talking about Roma inclusion if we build homes for them and put them all in one area? When talking about Roma, we need to start with ourselves, and what makes us feel like human beings. Just like everyone else, Roma also care about their children, think about how they are going to pay their bills, fight to survive, are worried about the current pandemic. Although having a distinct culture, Roma are in no way different from anybody else. And why do we treat them differently, put them in segregated areas, deny their human rights?" said Orhan Usein, Regional Cooperation Council Roma Integration, Head of Office, amongst other things, in his interview for Euro News Albania on the occassion of marking Human Rights Day.
Full interview is available at the links below.
RCC SG speech at the Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration
27 OCTOBER 2020 | SPEECH
Introductory remarks by the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu on the occasion of the Ministerial Meeting on Roma Integration, held in Tirana on 27 October 2020
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Orhan Usein: While one out of four young people in the region is in limbo, this is true for three out of four Roma
24 JULY 2020 | INTERVIEW
Croatian web portal Phralipen published an interview with Orhan Usein, Team Leader of the RCC's Roma Integration project. Usein spoke about achieved results, outcomes , goals and upcoming actvities the Declaration of Roma Integration, signed last year during the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan. Among other things, Usein also spoke about current situation of Roma in the Western Balkans, challenges they face, especially in the light of recent coronavirus outbreak.
The entire interview in Croation and English can be find bellow.
It is our duty to fight discrimination wherever we see it, Article by Orhan Usein, Team Leader of Roma Integration 2020 project on the occasion of the first anniversary of Poznan Declaration
07 JULY 2020 | INTERVIEW
"The discrimination of minorities is a pandemic worse than the coronavirus, as it has managed to rule the world for a lot longer. As well as the virus, it mutates, takes on new forms, and finds many different ways to inhibit the population.
Dehumanisation, degradation, segregation, humiliation – these are the experiences that Roma in Western Balkans face almost every day. Their rights have been denied for years, and the acknowledgment of the problem and serious actions have been to a great extent absent. ", said, among other things, Orhan Usein, Team Leader of Roma Integration 2020 project, implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) with the financial support of the European Union and the Open Society Foundations
Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2019-2020
25 JUNE 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.
Download: EN
RCC SG speech at the presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020 on 24 June 2020
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
Download: EN
BALKAN BAROMETER 2020: BUSINESS OPINION SURVEY
24 JUNE 2020 | 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.
Download: EN
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL COOPERATION COUNCIL SECRETARIAT
12 MARCH 2020 | 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.
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Treatment of Roma is an exam for us in the Western Balkans - are we fit for the EU?
10 JULY 2019 | INTERVIEW
Roma Integration – is the region ready for full integration of Roma population?
Article ‘Treatment of Roma is an exam for us in the Western Balkans - are we fit for the EU?’ about the position of Roma in the EU enlargement region and joint integration endorsed by the region’s leaders at the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan on 5 July 2019 to improve their living conditions.
Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process
05 JULY 2019 | DECLARATION/DECISION
Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process was endorsed by the Western Balkans at the Leaders’ Summit, within the Western Balkans Summit of Berlin Process series in Poznan, Poland on 5 July 2019
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BALKAN BAROMETER 2019 - INFOGRAPHICS
04 JULY 2019 | 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 of citizens and businesses on prevailing issues facing the region.
The entire BB survey is available at http://www.rcc.int/seeds
Download: EN
Regional cooperation is becoming a steady pattern to EU’s magnetic attraction
02 JULY 2019 | 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 becoming a steady pattern. For the future, let’s look into the past because the unsavoury one is still a threat! But REA has a clear status with togetherness at its core. Let’s give REA and regional cooperation the force to chart a sustainable long term Western Balkan reconciliation! Through economy, lifting all existing barriers!
Agenda of RCC's Roma Integration 2020 National Platform Meeting
06 JUNE 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
Agenda of RCC's Roma Integration 2020 National Platform Meeting, on 11 June in Tirana
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Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council 2017-2018
23 APRIL 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.
Download: EN
Roma Integration 2020
20 MARCH 2017 | INFORMATION MATERIAL
Brochure on RCC’ Project ‘Roma Integration 2020’, featuring goals, results, and actions to be undertaken in the forthcoming period.
The Roma Integration 2020 project, implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) with the financial support of the European Union and the Open Society Foundations, aims to contribute to reducing the socio-economic gap between the Roma and non-Roma population in the Western Balkans and Turkey and to strengthen the institutional obligations of governments to incorporate and deliver specific Roma integration goals in mainstream policy developments.
Download: EN