Documents & Publications
South East Europe 2020: Annual Report on Implementation for 2020
30 APRIL 2021 | REPORT
This year’s edition of Annual Report on Implementation (ARI) for 2020 is composed of three parts. Part I provides a summary and a comprehensive overview of the progress achieved throughout the implementation of SEE2020 Strategy. Part II contains an analysis of the progress towards reaching domestic and regional targets set for each of the SEE 2020 growth pillars, whereas Part III provides key policy recommendations along key SEE2020 thematic areas.
ARI for 2020 reflects the progress achieved in 2019 across 11 headline targets and reports on the activities of regional dimension co-ordinators until mid-April 2020. Due to the ongoing situation and challenges coronavirus pandemic keeps imposing on our societies, ARI also sheds light on the most important regional dynamics as well as on regional achievements and successes which occurred during these increasingly challenging times.
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Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in the Western Balkans - Diagnostic Report
24 DECEMBER 2020 | REPORT
Report on implementation of the Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in the Western Balkans covers diagnostics in the following MAP REA components: Trade, Investment, Skills & Mobility and Digital integration, priority areas of the action plan endorsed by the Leaders of Western Balkans at the Trieste Summit in 2017.
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Common Regional Market Factsheet
09 NOVEMBER 2020 | INFORMATION MATERIAL
Common Regional Market Action Plan is to be implemented by Western Balkans economies by 2024. RCC and CEFTA will be leading regional organisations to help Western Balkans implement it, together with other regional and international partners in line with their scope of work.
Secretary General for EWB: Western Balkans can not lose another decade marked with new instabilities
14 SEPTEMBER 2020 | INTERVIEW
European Western Balkans (EWB), a regional web portal specialized in European integration process of the Western Balkans, published an interview with RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu on regional initiative “Green Corridors”, an initiative "achieved in times of big crisis. Western Balkans 6, the Regional Cooperation Council, the Transport Community Treaty Secretariat and CEFTA, with the support of the European Commission and our bordering EU member states, helped governments in the region to set and open a very much needed measure in the given situation to maintain the flow of goods, especially food, medicines and medical equipment within the region and between the region and the EU in the time of lockdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak. "
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.
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RCC Secretary General for Radio Free Europe (RFE)
05 MAY 2020 | INTERVIEW
“Implementation of initiatives to strengthen cooperation amongst the [Western] Balkans Six economies would create conditions for better life of our citizens. What might save us from pains is for the political leaders and experts to say, because coronavirus pandemic is an abnormal situation that comes with abnormal risks. Cooperation is vital and I believe we all got the idea that solo play will bring us nowhere,” said, among other things, RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu in Radio Free Europe’s (RFE) article dubbed “Economic cooperation in Western Balkans: Solo play will bring us nowhere” analyzing the effects COVID-19 pandemic will have on the economy of Western Balkans.
The full article including the original answers to RFE questions provided by the RCC SG is available in the document.
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Tanja Miscevic, RCC's Deputy Secretary General for the European Western Balkans (EWB)
29 APRIL 2020 | INTERVIEW
Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) spoke to European Western Balkans (EWB) about the priorities of regional cooperation at the time of the pandemic, economic recovery plans and cooperation between RCC and the governments of the region, as well as the support the EU has provided for the Western Balkans.
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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Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu for Euronews Albania
24 JANUARY 2020 | INTERVIEW
Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Majlinda Bregu spoke to Euronews Albania on meaning, importance, successes and challenges of the Regional Economic Area.
The entire interview is avaliable at the following link https://euronews.al/al/aktualitet/2020/01/23/majlinda-bregu-shpresoj-qe-marreveshja-ps-pd-te-mos-jete-vetem-per-paqe-mes-aktoreve-te-politikes
ANNUAL REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MULTI-ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR A REGIONAL ECONOMIC AREA (MAP REA) IN WESTERN BALKANS (WB)
24 SEPTEMBER 2019 | REPORT
The Multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB) helps boost regional economic cooperation through: furthering regional trade integration, enhancing competitiveness and unleashing potentials for growth, promoting the region as an unique space for investment, creating better conditions to ensure free movement of professionals and skilled people, and connecting digitally businesses and citizens.
This report presents key achievements in the implementation of MAP REA in the period 2018-2019
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RCC Strategy and Work Programme 2020 –2022
08 JULY 2019 | REPORT
The Strategy and Work Programme 2020-2022 ‘Stepping up the Transformation’, of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, endorsed at the RCC Annual Meeting, on 8 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina aims to enhance socio-economic, digital and human connectivity within South East Europe (SEE), and between the region and the European Union (EU) through strengthened regional cooperation and development of a shared, inclusive and competitive economic space.
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Annual Report on of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) 2018-2019
08 JULY 2019 | REPORT
This Annual Report of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) covers the period April 2018 – May 2019.
It outlines the main RCC activities and achievements during 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. During the reporting period, the RCC has devoted its utmost attention to delivering positive change and facilitating necessary reforms in the region, aimed at speeding up economic convergence with the EU and (re)connecting the Western Balkans economies with the global and EU value chains.
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Chair’s conclusions: Western Balkans Summit Poznań
05 JULY 2019 | MEETING DOCUMENT
On 5 July 2019, Poland welcomed the Heads of Government of the Berlin Process participants, as well as representatives of the European Institutions, International Financial Institutions, OECD, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office.
The Poznan Summit builds on the previous Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Trieste and London Summits in the framework of the Berlin Process, as well as the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Sofia of 2018. The Leaders agreed that the Berlin Process demonstrates their commitment to achieve a stable, secure and prosperous Western Balkans region. The Western Balkans are part of Europe: sharing the common values, the same history, the same geography, the same cultural heritage and a future defined by common opportunities and challenges. The Leaders unanimously reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. In this context, the Polish government reiterates its conviction that the future of the entire region is in the European Union.
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Annexed documents to Chair's Conclusions from the Western Balkans Summit in Poznan 2019
05 JULY 2019 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The list of annexed documents:
- Declaration of Western Balkans Partners on Roma Integration within the EU Enlargement Process
- Declaration on Recognition of Higher Education Qualifications in the Western Balkans
- Investment Policy Statement of the Western Balkan Economies
- Communique of Jerzy Kwieciński, Minister of Investment and Economic Development
- Progress in developing good - neighbourly relations, as provided by Joint Declaration on Regional cooperation signed in London
- Main conclusions and recommendations summarized by The Presidency of the Council of the European Union: How to better respond to European aspirations of the young generation in the Western Balkans?
- Concluding statement: Western Balkans Digital Summit 2019, Belgrade
- Ministerial Statement on the Clear Energy Transition
- Transport Community Permanent Secretariat: Priority measures on border crossing points (BCPs) - common crossing points (CCPs)
- Transport Community Permanent Secretariat: Road Safety priorities measures
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!
Methodology on monitoring and reporting on the Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP)
02 JULY 2019 | MEETING DOCUMENT
This draft Methodology on monitoring and reporting is intended to serve as the basis for preparing regular (Annual and Semi-Annual) reports on the progress achieved in implementing the actions and meeting the objectives of the Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP). This Methodology is prepared by the RCC and CEFTA Secretariats in close cooperation with the MAP Coordinators. The methodology is consulted with National Administrations, the Regional platforms and working groups, the Western Balkan Chamber Investment Forum (WB CIF) and other partners working on regional initiatives relevant to the Regional Economic Area.
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Leaflet: Roaming Free Western Balkans
01 JULY 2019 | INFORMATION MATERIAL
#RoamingFreeWesternBalkans: After the signing of the Regional Roaming Agreement in Belgrade on 4 April 2019, drastic cuts of roaming costs in the region begun on 1 July 2019, leading to lowering roaming costs with EU, and 0 costs in WB in 2021
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Regional Roaming Agreement for the Western Balkans
04 APRIL 2019 | AGREEMENT
Regional Roaming Agreement or Agreement on the price reduction of the roaming services in public mobile communication networks in the Western Balkans region was signed in Belgrade, during the second Western Balkans Digital Summit on 4 April 2019.
The Agreement stipulates Roaming-Free region as by 2021.
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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."
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Operational Conclusions from the 4d Meeting of MAP REA Coordinators held in Brussels, Belgium on 26 March 2019
26 MARCH 2019 | MEETING DOCUMENT
Appointed MAP REA Coordinators and their representatives gathered for the fourth meeting organized by the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat on 26 March 2019 in Brussels. Representatives from European Commission (DG NEAR and DG CNCT), CEFTA, Western Balkan Chamber Investment Forum (WB CIF), World Bank Group and Poland were also present.
The meeting took note and discussed the state of implementation of MAP REA, including challenges being faced during implementation, with particular attention to the agreed deliverables for the Belgrade Digital Summit and the WB6 PM’s Summit in Poznan as well informed MAP REA Coordinators on the proposed forward looking commitments beyond Poznan Summit.
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Abridged Report on Implementation of MAP REA, July-December 2018
31 DECEMBER 2018 | REPORT
This report presents the key developments during July-December 2018 along the four components of Multi-annual Action Plan on Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB6), capturing progress and highlighting the most important milestones. The report is prepared by RCC based on the inputs and reporting delivered by WB6 in several meetings (i.e. MAP REA Coordinators’ meeting, WB6 PM Sherpas’ meeting, etc.).
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Draft Operational Conclusions from the 3d Meeting of MAP REA Coordinators held in Brussels, Belgium on 9 October 2018
09 OCTOBER 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
Appointed MAP REA Coordinators and their representatives gathered for the third meeting of MAP REA Coordinators, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council Secretariat on 9 October 2018 in Brussels. The following Operational Conclusions were agreed upon by participants.
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Chairs' conclusions of the Economy Ministers' Meeting of the London Western Balkans Summit 2018
18 JULY 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The participants of the Economy Ministers Meeting of the Berlin Process met in Vienna on 4 July and issued the conclusions presented in the document. The meeting built on the achievements of previous Berlin Process Summits, the recent European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Western Balkans Investment Summit,
and the Skopje Digital Summit.
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Annual Report on Implementation of the Multi-Annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Western Balkan Six (WB6)
03 JULY 2018 | REPORT
The Multi-annual Action Plan (MAP) for a Regional Economic Area (REA) in the Western Balkans Six (WB6), endorsed at the Trieste Summit of 12 July 2017, puts forward a strategic joint agenda for the Western Balkan economies to further regional economic cooperation with a view to unleash the potentials for growth, create conditions for better, transparent and predictable investment climate and improve the overall economic competitiveness of the WB6 economies. The actions introduced in the MAP REA are expected to be implemented until 2020, with some extensions until 2023, focusing on four key components: Trade, Investment, Mobility and Digital Integration.
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Brochure: Implementation of the Multi-Annual Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA)
03 JULY 2018 | INFORMATION MATERIAL
Brochure: Implementation of the Multi-Annual Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP REA): Economies at a Glance>State of Play and Way Forward
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MAP Stocktaking and Needs Assessment Report
19 JUNE 2018 | REPORT
The overall aim of the Multi-Annual Action Plan (MAP) Stocktaking and Needs Assessment Report is to take stock of the measures and resources needed to implement the key objectives set out in the MAP and recommend future actions, both at economy and regional level. The report identifies the major policy gaps and needs, including assistance through bilateral or regional projects, and proposes a set of measures needed to overcome them with a view to effective and timely implementation of the MAP as a whole.
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Statement from the Ministerial Meeting of the South East Europe Investment Committee
11 MAY 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The Ministerial Statement on “Sustaining Growth in SEE through Development of Regional Economic Area” has been adopted at the SEEIC Ministerial Meeting held on 11 May 2018 in Tivat, Montenegro.
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Regional Investment Reform Agenda for the Western Balkans Six
11 MAY 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The Regional Investment Reform Agenda (RIRA) was endorsed by representatives of the six Western Balkan (WB6) economies at the Ministerial meeting of the South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) held in Tivat, Montenegro on 11 May 2018. The goal of the RIRA is greater harmonization of WB6 investment policies with the European Union (EU) standards and international best practices, within the framework of the SEE 2020 Strategy, Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and EU pre-accession and accession processes. The RIRA will be forwarded to presentation, consideration and approval of the region’s Prime Ministers at the occasions of the upcoming WB6 Summits in Sofia and London, taking place on 17 May 2018 and 10 July 2018, respectively.
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Statement from the Ministerial Meeting of the South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC) in 2018
11 MAY 2018 | STATEMENT
Statement from the Ministerial Meeting of the South East Europe Investment Committee (SEEIC)
“Sustaining Growth in SEE through Development of Regional Economic Area” held in Tivat, Montenegro on 11 May 2018
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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.
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Conclusions from the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans
13 MARCH 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans was held in Brussels on 13 March 2018. The objective of the Meeting was to map and coordinate donor activities in the Western Balkans so as to help achieve a better alignment of governments’ regional development priorities and donors’ sectoral interventions. The meeting called for synergies in donor coordination process for implementation of SEE 2020 Strategy and Regional Economic Area in the WB region.
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Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans - Participants List
13 MARCH 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
List of participants of the Fourth Meeting on Donor Coordination in the Western Balkans held in Brussels on 13 march 2018
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Agenda of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee
12 MARCH 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
Agenda of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels on 12 March 2018
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List of participants of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee
12 MARCH 2018 | MEETING DOCUMENT
List of participants of the Sixth Meeting of the SEE 2020 Programming Committee held in Brussels on 12 March 2018
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MAP - Guidelines on Governance
18 DECEMBER 2017 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The document represents the draft Guidelines on Governance, Coordination and Reporting for Consolidated Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP) in the Western Balkans Six.
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Leaflet on Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans - MAP
04 DECEMBER 2017 | INFORMATION MATERIAL
The leaders of Western Balkans Six (WB6) endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP), at the Berlin-process summit held on 12 July 2017 in Trieste.
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Operational conclusions of the first MAP Coordinators’ meeting
31 OCTOBER 2017 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The document represents the operational conclusions of the first Meeting of Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area (MAP) Coordinators and MAP business-to-government (B2G) meeting, held on 31 October 2017, in Brussels.
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Multi-annual Action Plan for a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans Six
12 JULY 2017 | MEETING DOCUMENT
The leaders of Western Balkans Six (WB6) endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan on a Regional Economic Area in the Western Balkans (MAP), prepared by the RCC, at the Berlin Process summit on 12 July 2017, in Trieste, Italy . The RCC has been tasked to monitor and inform on the progress achieved in MAP implementation.
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