Sarajevo/Vienna – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria (BMEIA) have the pleasure to invite you to nominate an organisation or an individual from South East Europe for the 2023 Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award.

Nominations are open until 2 May 2024. An expert jury will decide upon the awardee based on certain criteria that nominees have to fulfil, available at LINK. The awardee, who must have contributed notably to advancing regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2023, guided by European values and principles, must be present at the award ceremony to receive the award. 

NOMINATE

The winner will receive a financial reward sponsored by the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria in the amount 10,000 Euro at the award ceremony, which will be held back-to-back with the RCC Annual Meeting in June in Skopje. Furthermore, the award will contribute to increased visibility of the awardee’s work and contribution. Previous laureates include Sarajevo Film Festival, Exit Festival, No Borders Orchestra, and many others. 

More information on the eligibility criteria, selection process, awardee benefits, previous laureates, etc. can be found under Regional Cooperation Council | Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award

The Champion of Regional Cooperation is an annual award inaugurated by the RCC in February 2013 marking the organisation’s 5th anniversary. In 2022, in cooperation with BMEIA, the title was changed to Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award, honouring Erhard Busek posthumously. He was the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the RCC’s predecessor, and a staunch supporter of the Western Balkans, as well as an avid advocate of the region’s integration into the European Union.