News Archive
14 November 2023 | News
Bregu: Brain Drain is Becoming not just Human Capital but Security Issue Too
Rome - "Migration is becoming one of the biggest problems of today, because countries are emptying. Not just those that result in the inflow of migrants to our region, but also because of the emigration from our region further to the west. Hence, the term of security challenges is dramatically changing. Security challenge is not just conflict resolution or prevention but it is also climate ...
26 September 2023 | News
Bregu: A human-centric Europe, with Western Balkans firmly in its fold, is the best investment in peace and security for the entire continent
Tirana – “A human-centric Europe, that is adapted, reformed, rebooted and more - with Western Balkans firmly in its fold - is the best investment in peace and security for the entire continent! The Western Balkans has made significant progress in the last two decades, but we are not where we wanted and should be and unfortunately, friction amongst countries persists, and conflicts ...
21 September 2023 | News
Bregu: When global institutions and frameworks are stretched thin, regional bodies can step in to provide stability, continuity, and direction
New York - "The Western Balkans has made significant progress in the last two decades, but the Western Balkans is not where its inhabitants or outside peacemakers hoped we would be twenty-plus years after the guns went largely quiet. Unfortunately, friction amongst economies persists, and conflicts can hinder investments and economic growth in the region. Having in mind this and the ...
15 September 2023 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans faces security challenges daily
Tirana – “As a region where geopolitical and strategic interests compete, Western Balkans faces security challenges daily, and the aggression against Ukraine didn’t make it any easier on us. According to Western Balkan citizens, their perception of security has been strongly affected by crime in general - organised crime in particular, as well as drugs and human trafficking, ...
29 June 2023 | News
Bregu: Regional approach to cybersecurity, in line with EU standards, is a must
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in cooperation with DG NEAR, organised a two-day high-level conference on cybersecurity in the Western Balkans, on 28-29 June 2023 in Brussels.
23 June 2023 | News
Kapetanovic: With already 334 victims of firearms in 2023 in our region, it is high time to reduce its supply, demand and misuse
Tirana – “The widespread proliferation and misuse of firearms poses a great threat to our societies. Only in the first quarter of 2023, 821 firearm incidents were reported in South East Europe, resulting in 334 victims. Our 2022 SecuriMeter survey indicates that 12% of Western Balkans citizens would consider owning a gun, which is twice as much compared to 2021. On the other hand, ...
29 April 2023 | News
BREGU: There is a price to pay for speaking the truth - how much are we willing to spend in “killing the fake news”?
Disinformation is false information deliberately and often covertly spread, such as through the planting of rumors, in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. Fake news spreads six times faster than true news.
20 April 2023 | News
RCC gathers key Western Balkan stakeholders for a workshop on media literacy and countering hybrid threats and disinformation
Helsinki - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in partnership with the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) and with support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, gathered 20 key Western Balkan stakeholders - government, institutions, media, media regulatory authorities from the Western Balkans and civil society ...
15 March 2023 | News
Bregu: Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains key in strengthening economic resilience of Western Balkans
Sarajevo – “External risks arising from the current geopolitical crisis and the rise in commodity prices reinforce the purpose of the Common Regional Market agenda. Continued all-inclusive regional cooperation remains the key towards strengthening economic resilience of the Western Balkans,” said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Majlinda Bregu, ...
17 February 2023 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans is an important piece of the European security and stability puzzle
The annual 59th Munich Security Conference (MSC) started in Munich today gathering world leaders to discuss topics of global security, defence, technology, and sustainability while keeping the focus on the still ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Alongside many world and European leaders, the MSC was attended by Olaf Scholz, German Chancellor, Emanuel Macron, French President, Volodymyr ...
18 November 2022 | News
Bregu: 82.9% of Western Balkan citizens agree that regional cooperation can help in improving economic resilience
Rome/Sarajevo – “The EU and the Western Balkans share many evolving, borderless security threats, from radicalisation, violent extremism, and return of Foreign Terrorist Fighters to irregular migration, organised crime, corruption, disinformation and cyber-attacks. Such joint priorities have been re-validated by the war in Ukraine by also making clear the important role of the Western ...
01 June 2022 | News
Kapetanovic: Disinformation is neither an overnight phenomenon nor can it have an overnight solution
Sarajevo - The Western Balkans has unfortunately always been susceptible to divisive narratives that always bring along hatred and violence. As the events unravel it is our constant responsibility to cultivate understanding and awareness of this phenomenon in our region. Good news is that the Western Balkan citizens have understood a detrimental potential of disinformation – as 74% ...
18 May 2022 | News
Bregu: With slowed growth & inflation, higher energy & food prices, Western Balkans will have to amp-up regional cooperation
Sarajevo - It is very difficult to sugar-coat the severity of economic effects of the war on the Western Balkans. It is equally difficult to accurately predict the true and longer-term impact, or to identify the opportunities for the region along the way. Our realities today are drastically different, with the war in Ukraine sending shockwaves and exacerbating two trends that were already ...
16 March 2022 | News
Bregu: European perspective important for socio-economic progress, but also for security and stability
Sarajevo/Tirana – “The times we are living in are not glamorous, on the contrary these are dark moments. We are all heartened and deeply saddened by the unjust war Ukrainian people are going through. The economic impact of the war stretches beyond Ukraine's borders. Concern is present in the Western Balkans, as the geopolitical and economic problems make our region sensitive ...
20 February 2022 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans’ growth potential can be unlocked only through regional economic integration
Munich – “European integration and transatlantic cooperation should not look decoupled in the Western Balkans (WB). It’s high time to put the process of EU accession of the WB into the spotlight before too late becomes a lifetime. This is the centre of gravity for the future of the Western Balkans. The European perspective is the drive that makes the process of cooperation ...
06 December 2021 | News
Bregu: EU and Balkans security challenges are becoming ever more interrelated amidst new global threats
Paris/Sarajevo – “The European Union and the Western Balkans security challenges are becoming ever more interrelated and connected to a set of a new global threats. We have to face that we are at an inflection point. We might soon be facing a crisis—a humanitarian and security crisis, as security issues are common, so common and collective should also be our response,” ...
15 October 2021 | News
Bregu: European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial
Sarajevo – “European perspective of Western Balkans is the drive that makes the process of cooperation beneficial to all in long-term. It is of highest importance that both the region and the EU deliver on the respective commitments – particularly when we take into account that optimism regarding the time of accession has been declining. More ambitious actions for ...
16 July 2021 | News
98% of firearm incidents perpetrators in the region are men
Sarajevo/Belgrade - 3,566 perpetrators of firearm incidents were reported in South East Europe (SEE) in 2020. For 2,700 perpetrators whose gender was specified, 98% or 2646 are men and only 2% or 54 are women, reveals the latest regional Armed Violence Monitor report, issued by the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), a regional ...
10 July 2021 | News
Bregu: Kinship, solidarity and political pragmatism give sense to regional cooperation, benefits of which have been proven time and time again
Dubrovnik/Sarajevo – “It is not bureaucracy and business as usual agenda that gives a sense to regional cooperation. It’s kinship, solidarity and political pragmatism. That’s what we are trying to do. To give a face to valued cooperation in a process where people are participating. Benefits of cooperation have been proven time and time again, success stories that RCC ...
24 June 2021 | News
Bregu: Balkan Barometer reveals human uncertainty and vulnerability are main concerns followed by some goodish news on benefits of regional cooperation
Tirana – “This, seventh in a row, Balkan Barometer shows human uncertainty and vulnerability are the main concerns followed by some goodish news which is the consciousness about the benefits of regional cooperation. For 49% of Western Balkan citizens, unemployment is the biggest problem, as it is for young people as well, while 46% are most worried about the economic situation. ...
22 June 2021 | News
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2021 - Public and Business Viewpoints on Situation in our Region
Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 2021 edition of Balkan Barometer on Thursday, 24 June 2021, starting at 10:00, in Tirana. 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 ...
16 June 2021 | News
Bregu: 2020 was difficult, but a real progress and achievements have been made for development of our region
Antalya – “Last year, ruled by the pandemic has definitely showcased the extent of our interconnectivity and interdependency and demonstrated that in cooperating, we boost our strengths and resilience. It is clear that regional socio-economic integration is crucial for regional development. There is no doubt about the fact that cooperation brings mutual benefit to its participants. ...
24 May 2021 | News
Bregu: 70% of Western Balkans citizens are afraid their children or young relatives might be radicalised online
Sarajevo – “The current global pandemic made it clear that security threats are not taking any time off. The region finds it very important to work on addressing the security challenges in the Western Balkans. It is quite interesting that 55% of those 82% who point out organised crime as the main security threat say it is corruption that fuels its existence,” said Secretary ...
23 May 2021 | News
RCC to present Western Balkans SecuriMeter - the first-ever regional Public Opinion Survey on Security
Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) with support of Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation will present the first-ever regional Public Opinion Survey on Security issues – Western Balkans SecuriMeter on Monday, 24 May 2021, starting at 10:00 CET. The presentation can be followed on Zoom and live on RCC social media channels, Youtube and Facebook. ...
11 March 2021 | News
Bregu: 77% of Western Balkans citizens agree that the relations in the region are better than a year ago
Sarajevo/Tirana – “The months since our last meeting in October have been difficult with the onset of new Covid-19 waves and new variants of the virus turning things topsy-turvy with a downward spiralling. In terms of regional cooperation, the big good news was the success of the Sofia Summit of the Berlin Process and the endorsement of the Declaration on Green Agenda for the ...
02 February 2021 | News
Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) holds its 5th Board meeting for the first time under the RCC umbrella
Sarajevo – The Western Balkan interior ministers adopted the annual work plan and the two methodologies of the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG), and also approved the membership of seven new IISG partners at the fifth meeting of the IISG Board held for the first time under the umbrella of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo today.
20 November 2020 | News
Over-securitisation of illegal immigration can be dangerous, but neglecting its detrimental potential can be equally dangerous too
Sarajevo – “Illegal immigration is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon which no single country can fix alone. We should take into account the opinion of 63% of Western Balkan citizens who perceive it as a direct security threat. Over-securitisation of this issue can be dangerous, but neglecting its detrimental potential can be equally dangerous too. Currently, bilateral and regional ...
12 November 2020 | News
Miscevic: We must work together on developing a culture of critical media literacy in our societies and build disinformation resilience
Sarajevo - “We must immediately begin to work together on developing a culture of critical media literacy in our societies and build disinformation resilience. Developing resistance to fake news should be viewed almost like a key component of the overall security policy of any Western Balkan economy,” said Tanja Miscevic, RCC’s Deputy Secretary General, at the opening of ...
30 September 2020 | News
Gender equality does not concern only women, but the whole society and gender mainstreaming benefits men just as it does women
Sarajevo – “The good news is that the percentage of women in armed forces in Western Balkans is increasing. According to regional ministries of defence, the share of women soldiers is 13% in Albania, 8,46% in BiH, 5% in North Macedonia, 8,17% in Montenegro and 15,68% Serbia. NATO average is 10,9%, while in Bulgaria that share grow from 12% to 20% in just a decade. Slovenia has ...
25 June 2020 | News
Bregu: It is up to the region to retain commitment to cooperation and bring forth tangible progress to citizens
Tirana/Sarajevo/Prishtina – The two meetings have been held today within the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) - the meeting of the SEECP Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the RCC Annual Meeting, which RCC co-organised with the outgoing Kosovo SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO).
24 June 2020 | News
Bregu: Cooperation is the only blueprint that holds the promise of ‘Stronger Together’
Sarajevo – “The regional cooperation continues to grow in prominence with an overwhelming majority of citizens supportive of its role in improving the political, economic and security situation in their home economies - 77%, and 65% of them believes that what brings WB citizens together is more important than what separates us. The quick spread of COVID -19 was a grim reminder ...
23 June 2020 | News
The Shape of the Things to Come - Presentation of Balkan Barometer 2020
Sarajevo – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will present 2020 edition of Balkan Barometer on Wednesday 24 June 2020. This annual public and business opinion survey of the RCC examines the perception and expectations on life and work, prevalent socio-economic and political trends & regional and European integration in the Western Balkan. The 2020 edition presents for the first ...
14 May 2020 | News
Bregu: Pandemic created a common awareness that at least for now humankind takes precedence over politics and disputes
Sarajevo – “For all its aggressiveness, the COVID-19 crisis also offers glimmers of hope. It has connected Western Balkans even more, this time in a fight against an invisible enemy. It has persuaded us that cooperation should be resilient. It has created a common awareness that at least for now humankind takes precedence over politics and disputes, while borders are considered ...
07 April 2020 | News
COVID - 19 pandemic causes by far the largest-ever cyber security threat to the region and world
Sarajevo - On 6 April, Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosted an online consultative meeting of South East Europe National Security Authorities (SEENSA) participants, in order to set the course for the implementation of planned activities in light of the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as to discuss the potential role of the platform in managing and mitigating ...
05 March 2020 | News
Society should provide young people with knowledge and skills to resist negative influence and propaganda of extremists and radicalized groups
Tirana – “Numbers speak louder than words on the scope of vulnerability of youth to online radicalisation and violent extremism, often leading to terrorism. The World Bank finds that 23% of youngsters in the Western Balkans, aged between 16-24, are neither in school, job, nor in training, feeling excluded from social developments. Combined with registered significant increase in ...
03 March 2020 | News
Kapetanovic: Responsible journalism is about consequences it causes to a society rather than about number of clicks or likes
Skopje – “Security challenges of our times are indeed very many - from an outbreak of deadly viruses to outbreak of violent extremism, often leading to terrorist attacks, and fake news not meant to inform, but to mislead. And on top of that journalism is confronted with yet another outbreak – social media. So the real challenge for journalists is finding a way to stop chasing only ...
31 January 2020 | News
Bregu: We are committed to enable the region to be an exporter of security
Berlin – “Nearly half of all respondents of the RCC’s Balkan Barometer are unhappy with the security situation in their economy - with estimates that five out of the six surveyed economies, Albania excluded, make the world’s top 20 list for civilian gun ownership. However we are happy to notice that the security reality in the region have already started improve for the better”, ...
31 January 2020 | News
Bregu: This is much needed opportunity to work together on transformation of our countries into the future EU member states
Berlin – The Republic of France has decide to re-join the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), announced French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, at the high-level meeting of the Franco-German Coordination Initiative on Small Arms and Light Weapons Control in the Western Balkans, taking place in Berlin today.
11 December 2019 | News
EU boosts support for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans
Brussels - In the margins of the Western Balkan Sherpas meeting, which took place in Brussels today in the run-up to the EU-Western Balkans Summit in May 2020, the European Commission reinforced its support to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans. The signed contract for continued cooperation with RCC worth EUR 12.5 million aims at further strengthening RCC’s activities over the ...
05 December 2019 | News
RCC: We need dynamic regional responses to modern security challenges
Trieste – “83% of Europeans agree that fake news is a threat to democracy, yet it has become a new normalcy, sitting between a freedom of speech and freedom to hate. Fake news is vastly contributing to hate speech which adds fuel to the fire of nationalism and violent extremism, especially on social media. That is a path towards youth radicalisation, a global problem, to which our region ...
18 November 2019 | News
RCC takes IISG – Western Balkans’ internal security governance platform under its wing
Skopje – “We will be bigger. As of next year the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) will coordinate one of the most important agendas of the region: security. Security threats do not need any visa or border checks”, said the RCC's Secretary General, Majlinda Bregu after today’s 4th meeting of the Integrative Internal Security Governance (IISG) Board, held in Skopje, at which functional ...
07 November 2019 | News
Gender mainstreaming and the role of women in armed forces for the first time focus of the SEEMIC meeting
Ljubljana - “The role of women in armed forces is an important topic and I am pleased we are discussing it today in Ljubljana in particular, as Slovenia sets a remarkable example for the region with the ratio of over 70% of women making up its Armed Forces. Especially when we know that nowhere in the region women comprise even one quarter of Armed Forces. Gender mainstreaming, or gender ...
25 October 2019 | News
Number of cyberattacks targeting smartphones has increased by 50% in the first half of 2019
Tirana – The year 2020 will be devoted to further strengthening the capacities of the National Security Authorities (NSA) in industrial security and cyber security, as concluded at the meeting of Heads of NSA from South East Europe (SEENSA), held in Tirana on 24 October 2019.
17 October 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkans citizens need incentive from the EU
Sarajevo – “While awaiting the European Union’s Summit’s official decision on the opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia today, for us in the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and for the entire region as well, it is quite important to reiterate that Western Balkans is an integral part of the EU. The EU integration process needs always to ...
08 July 2019 | News
Bregu: RCC keen to embark on any challenges with full support of regional and EU partners - we don’t need to loose time in order to find it again
Sarajevo – „A year behind us was a dynamic one and we are prepared to continue just as dynamic in the next one. We, at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) are ready and keen to embark on any challenges ahead of us but we cannot do it without the full support of our regional and European partners, as we don’t need to loose time in order to find it again”, said Majlinda Bregu, Secretary ...
07 July 2019 | News
RCC to Present Balkan Barometer 2019 at the Annual meeting of the organisation in Sarajevo
Sarajevo - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is to present the 5th, 2019 edition of its public and businesses viewpoints survey – Balkan Barometer (BB) at the Annual meeting of the organisation that is taking place on 8 July 2019 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
05 July 2019 | News
Bregu: Western Balkan should embark on serious, wide-ranging facilitation agenda, including movement of people, goods, services and capital
Poznan – “Two years after the Western Balkans’ (WB) Prime Ministers endorsed the Multi-annual Action Plan for the Regional Economic Area (MAP REA) in Trieste the region has not fully embraced the opportunities offered by the Regional Economic Area. Flows of goods, services, capital and people continue to be obstructed. We all could draw an important lesson from the Regional ...
04 July 2019 | News
Bregu: Balkan Barometer 2019 clearly shows public and business appreciation of regional cooperation and need to strengthen it
Poznan – “There's no better way to stress the need for stepping up the regional cooperation than quoting the citizens and businesses of the Western Balkans (WB) who overwhelmingly, with 74% and 67% respectively, believe in regional cooperation. The recent success with dropping of roaming charges WB-wide as of 1 of July is an example of how regional cooperation is becoming a steady pattern ...
29 May 2019 | News
Kapetanovic: Cyber security one of the RCC’s top priorities
Ljubljana – “The issue of cyber security in general but also in the context of fight against terrorism and online radicalization has become a new security hot spot and challenge at national, regional and global level. This is why cyber security is one of the priorities of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) both in terms of capacity building and from security point of view”, ...
22 May 2019 | News
Kapetanovic: Dislocation of youth from socio-economic trends makes them vulnerable to radicalization
Pristina – “The youth are extremely exposed group to various forms of emerging challenges in our region, as more than 20% of them between 16 and 25 years of age have no job, are not involved in training education, and 1 out of 2 want to leave their homeland not believing in betterment of their society”, said Amer Kapetanovic, Head of Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) Political ...
23 April 2019 | News
Kapetanovic: We have to focus on tangible actions and results in countering & prevention of terrorism & violent extremism in the region
Tirana – The seventh meeting of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)’s Group of National Focal Points (NFP Group) for Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) in South East Europe (SEE) is held in Tirana today.
12 April 2019 | News
Social media might become prime way of radicalization of young people in the years to come
Budva – Online radicalization in South East Europe (SEE) and ways to deal with this global phenomenon on the regional level are the main topics at the regional Workshop on prevention of online radicalization, being held in Budva today.
10 April 2019 | News
RCC’s Amer Kapetanovic: Security cooperation in the region has enormous potential that needs to be up-scaled
Tirana –The South East European National Security Authorities’ (SEENSA) met in Tirana today, at the meeting co-organized and co-chaired by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the National security agency (NSA) of Albania.
06 December 2018 | News
Svilanovic: Cyber security became new hotspot and serious challenge at global, regional and local level
Istanbul – The Third Regional Coordination Conference for Counter-Terrorism (CT) and Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) in South East Europe (SEE), organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the Government and the Ministry of Interior of Turkey, together with Integrative Internal Security Governance Initiative (IISG), opened in Istanbul, Turkey, ...
07 November 2018 | News
Region’s Military Intelligence Chiefs discuss cyber security challenges in the Western Balkans
Tirana – The South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs (SEEMIC) adopted the Open-source intelligence (OSINT) assessment dedicated to ‘Challenges to critical infrastructure cyber security in South East Europe ' at their 10th Conference held on 7 November 2018 in Tirana, Albania. The event was co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Defence Intelligence and ...
25 October 2018 | News
RCC hosts workshop for Western Balkans journalists on media coverage of terrorism and violent extremism topics
Budva - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) hosts a Regional Workshop on media coverage of violent extremism-related topics for journalists from the Western Balkans, in Budva, Montenegro, today.
19 October 2018 | News
RCC organises regional workshop for journalists from the Western Balkans on media coverage of terrorism and violent extremism topics
Budva - The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is organising a Regional Workshop on media coverage of violent extremism-related topics for journalists from the Western Balkans, on 25 October 2018, in Budva, Montenegro.
03 October 2018 | News
Svilanovic: Trained security practitioners are invaluable in prevention and countering of violent extremism and radicalization in Western Balkans
Skopje - A seminar on prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE) in the Western Balkans (WB) gathering security practitioners from the region and distinguished regional and international lecturers is being held in Skopje today. The seminar has been organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior of The Former Yugoslav Republic of ...
18 September 2018 | News
Sarajevo: Students from BiH universities discuss early signs of radicalisation among youth and its prevention
Sarajevo – Close to 50 students from various Universities across Bosnia and Herzegovina gathered in BiH capital today at the one-day Workshop, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) at Faculty for Criminalistics, Criminology and Security Studies of University of Sarajevo, to discuss the early signs of radicalisation in their local communities, vulnerable targeted population, ...
06 July 2018 | News
RCC’s Balkan Barometer 2018: Satisfaction of people and businesses on overall situation in the region is steadily improving
Brussels – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) revealed results of 2018 edition of the Balkan Barometer (BB), an annual survey of citizens and business communities’ opinion on the situation in the region, in Brussels today. The main findings of the survey show that satisfaction of people and businesses on the overall situation in the region, while still below average, is steadily improving.
30 May 2018 | News
Combating terrorism and violent extremism cannot be done without full support of judicial institutions
Tirana – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Albanian Ministry of Justice are hosting a regional workshop on law enforcement/judicial services and state attorneys/prosecutors in dealing with terrorism and violent extremism and connected crimes, in Tirana today. It gathers judges, prosecutors and experts from the Western Balkans, guests from the international organisations and ...
18 April 2018 | News
Cyber Security: Regional Expert Conference and Workshop on Countering Online Radicalisation
Belgrade - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organised a two-day regional Conference and Workshop tackling countering online radicalisation in the context of cyber security in Belgrade on 17-18 April 2018.
29 March 2018 | News
RCC: Ljubljana hosts 3-day training for young diplomats and SEENSA meeting
Ljubljana – Personnel security and awareness raising issues were the main topics of the South East European National Security Authorities (SEENSA) expert working group meeting, which was hosted by the Republic of Slovenia’s Government Office for the Protection of Classified Information (NSA) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Ljubljana today.
01 February 2018 | News
Regional Deputy Ministers of Interior and Foreign Affairs Commit to Joint Approach to Small Arms and Light Weapons Control
Podgorica – Deputy Ministers of the Interior and Foreign Affairs from the region expressed determination to strengthen their commitments towards Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Control in South East Europe (SEE), as agreed in the Joint Statement at the High Level Regional Conference - Reinforcing Commitments towards Small Arms and Light Weapons Control in South East Europe, held in ...
30 November 2017 | News
RCC: Second Regional Coordination Conference for Counter-Terrorism and Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism opens in Brdo pri Kranju
Svilanovic: Departures from the region to Syria and Iraq almost completely stopped by mid-2016 Brdo near Kranj – Second Regional Coordination Conference for Counter-Terrorism (CT) and Prevention and Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) in South East Europe (SEE), discussing the enhancement of cooperation and coordination of CT and P/CVE programmes and activities in the region, commenced ...
28 November 2017 | News
Regional Workshop on Prosecution, Detention, Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters begins today
Rakitje – Regional expert workshop “Prosecution, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters”, organised by Centre for Security Cooperation - RACVIAC in cooperation with Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina started in Rakitje, Croatia, today.
08 November 2017 | News
South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs adopt OSINT assessment on Use of Social Media by Violent Extremists
Budva – Open-source intelligence (OSINT) assessment dedicated to ‘Use of Social Media by violent extremists' has been adopted by the South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs (SEEMIC) at their 9th Conference held on 7 November 2017 in Budva, Montenegro. The event was co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Department for Military Intelligence ...
05 October 2017 | News
Heads of South East European National Security Authorities convene for their 7th Annual meeting
Belgrade - South East European National Security Authorities’ (SEENSA) forum held its 7th annual meeting at directors’ level in Belgrade, Serbia today.
25 May 2017 | News
Svilanovic: We need to engage and empower youth, to make them more resilient to violent extremism propaganda
Zagreb – The role of education and civil society in prevention of violent extremism was a topic of the regional workshop, organised by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in Zagreb today.
21 April 2017 | News
Assessment on use of social media by violent extremist discussed by SEEMIC Expert Working Group
Podgorica - South East Europe Military Intelligence Chiefs’ forum - Expert Working Group (SEEMIC EWG) met at their 9th meeting on 20 April 2017 in Podgorica to discuss the draft Open-source intelligence (OSINT) assessment and agenda of the main SEEMIC conference planned later this year.
03 April 2017 | News
RCC launches a website on prevention and countering of violent extremism in South East Europe - www.rcc.int/p-cve
Sarajevo – The website on prevention and countering of violent extremism (P-CVE) in South East Europe (SEE) is operational as of today. The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched the website providing relevant information on P-CVE in SEE, documents related to the regional initiatives, glossary and links to respective institutions dealing with the topic in the region.
22 March 2017 | News
SEE group on countering radicalisation and violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters continue its work under RCC auspices
Skopje/Sarajevo – The third regular meeting of the South East Europe (SEE) National Focal Points (NFP) for countering radicalization and violent extremism (CVE) and foreign terrorist fighters (FTF), took place today in Skopje. The meeting has been organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Former Yugoslav Republic of ...
03 March 2017 | News
RCC presents its report on activities in countering radicalization and violent extremism to SEECP Foreign Ministers
Zagreb/Sarajevo – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, presented the RCC’s report on activities in countering radicalization and violent extremism (CVE/FTF), at the informal meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the South - East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), in Zagreb today.
23 November 2016 | News
Foreign Terrorist Fighters – Challenges for South Eastern Europe
Zagreb - Conference titled Foreign Terrorist Fighters – Challenges for South Eastern Europe: An Integrative and Complementary Approach to Counter – Terrorism and Violent Extremism began at the RACVIAC – Centre for Security Cooperation. The event is being organized in Cooperation with the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina. ...
11 November 2016 | News
Tirana: Stepping up regional response in fight against radicalization, violent extremism, terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters in South East Europe in the focus of the RCC-organised conference
Tirana - For the first time in this format key international partners, regional organisations and representatives of governments from South East Europe (SEE) gathered to discuss and agree upon practical recommendations and future steps in fight against radicalization, violent extremism, terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters in the region, at the regional conference organized by the ...
20 October 2016 | News
Chisinau: Migration crisis, radicalization and violent extremism leading to terrorism in the focus of SEE military intelligence chiefs meeting
Sarajevo/Chisinau, 20 October 2016 – “The security situation in South East Europe calls for greater responsibility and concerted efforts from all of us in the region”, said Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Mr. Goran Svilanović at the opening of the 8th South East Europe Military Intelligence Chiefs (SEEMIC) forum in Chisinau, Moldova today. The event is being ...
29 September 2016 | News
Cyber security, education and training on the agenda of the 6th South East European National Security Authorities’ forum (SEENSA)
Sarajevo/Podgorica – “Regional cooperation of national security authorities (NSA) in South East Europe (SEE) is one of the Regional Cooperation Council’s (RCC) success stories,” said RCC’s Secretary General Goran Svilanović at the opening of the 6th South East European National Security Authorities’ forum (SEENSA) in Podgorica today.
07 June 2016 | News
RCC hosts workshop on countering violent extremism in South East Europe
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat hosted a regional expert workshop on “Factors and drivers underlying radicalization and violent extremism leading to terrorism”, in Sarajevo today. The event, organized with the support of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, is a part of implementation of the RCC’s South ...
19 May 2016 | News
Furthering security cooperation in South East Europe
Chisinau/Sarajevo – The annual meeting of the Expert working group of the Southeast Europe Military Intelligence Chiefs' Forum (SEEMIC EWG) was held in the Moldovan capital today and was opened by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic and Aurel Fondos, the State Secretary in the Defence Ministry of Moldova.
27 January 2016 | News
Flow of recruits for violent extremists, terrorists and foreign fighters must be stopped
Sarajevo, 27 January 2016 - Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic, chaired today’s first meeting of the Group of National focal points for countering radicalization and violent extremism leading to terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters in Southeast Europe.
05 November 2015 | News
RCC partakes in security issues conference
Thessaloniki/Sarajevo, 5 November 2015 – The northern Greek city of Thessaloniki hosted today the 7th session of the South East Europe Military Intelligence Chiefs’ Forum (SEEMIC), co-chaired by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Greece.
06 October 2015 | News
Countering violent extremism in focus of RCC-State Department talks
Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretary General, Goran Svilanovic and US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for European and Eurasian affairs, Hoyt Yee, met in Washington yesterday and exchanged views on the current political situation in Southeast Europe (SEE) and the state of the Euro-Atlantic integration process of the region.
17 April 2015 | News
Justice and Home Affairs Ministers agree on stepping up cooperation in the joint fight against terrorism
SARAJEVO/BUDVA, 17 April 2015 – Ministers of Interior and Justice from South East Europe (SEE) agreed on the importance of a common approach to prevention, detection and fight against terrorism in the region, at the Ministerial Conference on Justice and Home Affairs that ended in Budva, Montenegro today.
16 April 2015 | News
Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Conference on Terrorism in Budva, 16-17 April 2015
Ministry of Interior of Montenegro, Ministry of Justice of Montenegro, Ministry of Interior of Slovenia and Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), as operational Secretariat of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), are organising a Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Conference on Fight against Terrorism which will take place in Budva, Montenegro, on 16-17 May 2015.
19 May 2014 | News
RCC calls EU for continuation of urgent assistance to flood-affected countries in the region
BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Goran Svilanovic, asked for continuation of EU assistance to flood-affected countries in the region, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, during his meeting with the European Union's Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, in Brussels ...
11 March 2013 | News
Seven German ambassadors from Western Balkans and foreign ministry discuss regional issues, express support to RCC work
SARAJEVO - Ambassadors of Germany in Belgrade, Podgorica, Prishtina, Sarajevo, Skopje and Tirana, accompanied by colleagues from the foreign ministry, discussed political situation in Western Balkans and the region’s European perspective during a visit to the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo today.
19 September 2012 | News
South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs meet in Sofia
The 4th conference of the South East European Military Intelligence Chiefs (SEEMIC) was held in Sofia today focusing on military-political and security situation in South East Europe. Special attention was devoted to challenges facing the military intelligence organizations associated with activities of various terrorist and extremist structures, organized crime and illegal trafficking in ...
13 October 2011 | News
Twelve South East European military intelligence chiefs step up cooperation in Sarajevo today, under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – Chiefs and senior officials of military intelligence from 12 South East European countries, members of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), agreed in Sarajevo today to move forward regional cooperation in the field of intelligence exchange and adopted rules of procedures to put the cooperation in practice.
06 July 2011 | News
Serbian President Tadic gives full support to RCC activities in promoting regional cooperation in South East Europe
SARAJEVO – President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic, paid a visit today to the Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in Sarajevo, where he expressed full support to the work of the organization during his meeting with RCC Secretary General Hido Biscevic.
30 June 2011 | News
Heads of State and Government of South East Europe praise work of Regional Cooperation Council
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – The Heads of State and Government of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) praised today in Budva the successful implementation of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Strategy and Work Programme 2011-2013, endorsing the Annual Report of its Secretary General.
29 June 2011 | News
South East European foreign ministers voice support to RCC activities, endorse its Annual Report
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) countries commended today the work of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and its Secretary General at a meeting in Budva, Montenegro.
28 June 2011 | News
Regional cooperation in South East Europe encouraging, says RCC Secretary General at the organization’s Annual Meeting
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – “Regional cooperation in South East Europe has exhibited encouraging signs over the past year“ said Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), while opening the organization's third Annual Meeting in the Montenegrin town of Becici near Budva, on 28 June 2011.
25 May 2011 | News
First meeting of national security authorities from South East Europe to discuss regional platform for exchange of classified information
SOFIA – The first meeting of heads of national security authorities from South East European countries – members of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) – will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 25-27 May 2011.
31 March 2011 | News
Western Balkans and Europe 2020 conference agrees RCC best suited to help align regional programmes with Europe 2020
BRUSSELS/SARAJEVO – Over 100 participants of a Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth conference of regional initiatives and international donors concluded in Brussels today that the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) is the institution most apt to help align regional programmes with goals of Europe 2020 strategy of the European Union (EU).
24 March 2011 | News
RCC-organized conference on Western Balkans and Europe 2020 to discuss growth in the region, gather close to 50 institutions and donors
SARAJEVO/BRUSSELS – A Western Balkans and Europe 2020 – Towards Convergence and Growth coordination meeting of regional initiatives and interested donor institutions will take place in Brussels, on 30-31 March 2011. The event will be organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
22 March 2011 | News
Sarajevo meeting discusses security sector reform in Western Balkans
Representatives of seven regional civil society organizations (CSOs) – from Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, Tirana and Zagreb – analyzed in Sarajevo today security sector reforms (SSR) in the Western Balkans, at a roundtable co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
17 March 2011 | News
South East European ministers to endorse regional strategy on justice and home affairs, prepared under RCC auspices
BUDVA/SARAJEVO – A two-day conference of ministers of justice and interior of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is expected to endorse the Regional Strategic Document on Justice and Home Affairs 2011-2013 developed by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders from the region, commenced in Budva today.
15 March 2011 | News
South East European defense ministers stress RCC’s importance in regional cooperation
In a Joint Statement adopted in Budva today, Ministers of Defense of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) stressed the importance of defense and security cooperation in fostering general stability and development in the region.
04 March 2011 | News
Prospects for regional cooperation in South East Europe in 2011 and beyond focus of the 3rd RCC anniversary celebration
SARAJEVO – A panel discussion South East Europe in 2011 and Beyond: Sharing the Same Vision will be held in Sarajevo, on Monday, 7 March, to mark the third anniversary of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).
30 September 2010 | News
Nine South East European military intelligence chiefs sign cooperation statement in Belgrade today, under RCC auspices
BELGRADE – A statement on cooperation among military intelligence institutions of Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) members from South East Europe was signed in Belgrade today by nine military intelligence chiefs from the region. The signatories of the first such statement in the region agreed to establish and develop cooperation in the field of security threats, and join efforts in improving ...
15 September 2010 | News
RCC Secretary General to outline the organization’s new three-year strategy at a press conference in Sarajevo tomorrow
SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, will present the organization’s new strategy for 2011-2013, and outline the main activities scheduled for this autumn, at a press conference in Sarajevo, tomorrow, 16 September.
14 April 2010 | News
Regional Cooperation Council launches redesigned website and new publication, a monthly newsletter
SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat launched today a redesigned version of the organization’s website and a new publication, the monthly e-newsletter.
04 March 2010 | News
RCC Board starts discussing the organization's strategy for the next three years
SARAJEVO – The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board discussed today the first draft of the new, three-year Strategic Work Programme of the organization for the period 2011-2013.
23 February 2010 | News
International conference on overcoming economic crisis in Western Balkans to mark 2nd RCC anniversary
SARAJEVO – A two-day regional conference “Western Balkans in 2020 – Overcoming the Economic Crisis and Developing Competitive Economies” will open in Sarajevo tomorrow. The event, organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, will also mark the 2nd anniversary of the organization.
03 December 2009 | News
RCC Board discusses future strategic focuses of organization's activities and supports efforts of its Secretariat in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The 29 members of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Board discussed today in Sarajevo further strategic prioritization of activities of the organization and gave full support to its Secretariat in these efforts.
17 September 2009 | News
First meeting of prominent experts from South East Europe on regional response to economic crisis takes place in Sarajevo under RCC auspices
SARAJEVO – A panel of high-level experts from South East Europe (SEE) met in Sarajevo today to stimulate in depth discussion on regional response to global economic crisis. The first such meeting in the region was held under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat.
15 September 2009 | News
RCC Board discusses situation in South East Europe and praises work of the organization’s Secretariat in Sarajevo
SARAJEVO – The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Hido Biscevic, presented his latest quarterly report on the activities of the RCC Secretariat to the 29 members of the organization's Board, who gathered in Sarajevo today. The report covers the period between 9 May and 9 September 2009.
16 July 2009 | News
First preparatory meeting on establishing South East European Firefighting Regional Center held in Sarajevo under RCC auspices
The first preparatory meeting on the establishment of the South East European Firefighting Regional Center (SEEFREC) was held at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat in Sarajevo on 15-16 July 2009.
22 May 2009 | News
Regional cooperation needed to address security challenges in South East Europe, defence policy directors agree in Sofia
SOFIA/SARAJEVO – Multinational cooperation is very much needed to address present security challenges in South East Europe (SEE), SEE defence policy directors agreed at a meeting in Sofia today.
24 October 2008 | News
Zurich conference presents Southeastern and Central Europe Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility to the countries of the region
ZURICH/SARAJEVO – A conference discussing the potential of establishing the Southeastern and Central Europe Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (SECE-CRIF), organized by the World Bank, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Secretariat, and the UN Secretariat of International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), was held today in Zurich, Switzerland.