Sarajevo/Vienna – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of Austria (BMEIA) are pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the 2024 Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award. The award recognises an individual or organisation for an outstanding contribution to advancing regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2024.

Nominations are open until 7 May 2025, after which a jury will review the submissions and select the recipient in accordance with the award’s criteria. 

More information, including eligibility criteria and nomination form, is available at: https://www.rcc.int/championofregionalcooperation 

The winner will receive a financial reward, generously provided by the BMEIA, in the amount of 10,000 EUR. The award ceremony will be held in June in Tirana, back-to-back with the RCC Annual Meeting. In addition to the monetary prize, the award offers valuable visibility and recognition for the recipient’s work. Previous laureates include Youth Sports Games, No Borders Orchestra, Sarajevo Film Festival, Exit Festival, and many others. 

The Champion of Regional Cooperation is an annual award initiated by the RCC in February 2013 on the occasion of the organisation’s 5th anniversary. In 2022, the award was renamed in honour of Dr Erhard Busek, the late Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the RCC’s predecessor. A committed advocate of Western Balkans and its integration into the European Union, Dr Busek’s legacy continues to inspire efforts toward a more connected, collaborative region.