We are pleased to announce the publication of the Post-conference Report for the Seventh Regional (Jumbo) Security Coordination Conference titled "Security Cooperation in the Western Balkans - Challenges and Lessons from Pandemics to War in Ukraine", which was held on 17-18 November 2022.

The conference was co-organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the International Relations Service of the Office for the Coordination and Planning of Police Forces of the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the government of Italy at the premises of the Police Institute of Advanced Studies in Rome.

More than 100 participants and security practitioners from Western Balkan economies, Italy, and other European Union (EU) member states, as well as representatives of the EU Commission, Frontex, IOM, IISG, MARRI, GI, and other relevant regional and international organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), and law enforcement agencies, attended the event.

The conference's main objective was to map out, assess, and explore prevalent security challenges facing the Western Balkans region and the EU in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Particular attention was given to sharing good practices and taking stock of lessons learned from participating stakeholders in tackling common transnational challenges. The ultimate goal of the conference was to streamline and strengthen security cooperation and coordination in the Western Balkans at the political, strategic, and operational levels between all relevant stakeholders, including international and regional organizations and initiatives.

The agenda was divided into technical panels chaired by the Director of International Relations Service, Dirigente Superiore of the State Police, Ms. Eufemia Esposito, and by the Head of Political Department of the Regional Cooperation Council, Ambassador Amer Kapetanović, together with five moderators and field experts. The five thematic sessions discussed during the two-day conference were as follows: Session 1: Critical events management: Energy Security in the Western Balkans; Session 2: Radicalisation, violent extremism, and terrorism; Session 3: Transnational organized crime in the international crisis scenarios; Session 4: Cooperation, achievements, and challenges in the fight against irregular migration in the Western Balkans; and Session 5: Cybercrime: Protection of critical infrastructures.

The post-conference Report offers a comprehensive overview of the conference deliberations, outlining the main themes and key points raised by the participants during their sessions. Additionally, the Report provides insightful observations and preliminary recommendations for enhancing the Jumbo Security Conference in the future. These suggestions are designed to better align with the participating stakeholders' needs and goals and help organizers achieve their strategic objectives.