Bregu: Cooperation, as our strongest asset, remains our guiding principle

2024-09-27 19:42:00, Aktualitet CNA

The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organized yesterday a meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in cooperation with the SEECP Presidency of Tirana in New York, within the 79th session of the Assembly of General of the United Nations (UNGA).

"As our population shrinks and economic disparities widen, the socio-economic structure of South East Europe (SEE) becomes increasingly strained. Our strategy for the future must include comprehensive measures to improve local and regional economic conditions, to improve infrastructure and to use other instruments that offer new opportunities for the stabilization and revitalization of our economies", said Majlinda Bregu, General Secretary of the RCC in her opening speech.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs commended the RCC's policies in guiding and facilitating regional cooperation and emphasized the importance of the second phase of the Common Regional Market (CRM), anticipating its adoption at the upcoming Berlin Process Summit next month .

"RCC is guided by the principle that collaboration is our strongest asset in a rapidly changing world. Nearly six years into my tenure, this principle remains as vital as ever. Our mission over the past six years has been clear : not only to adapt to change it, but to orient the reality with our initiatives, including our role as a key contributor to the Berlin Process, always aiming to ensure the sustainability of our region's deeper economic integration and social development" , Bregu added.

Bregu: Cooperation, as our strongest asset, remains our guiding principle

The Joint Regional Market Action Plan (2021-2024), under the coordination of the RCC, delivered tangible results for the citizens of the Western Balkans. The most important are:

The signing of the Western Balkan Roaming Agreement (BP) that eliminated roaming costs from 1 July 2021, leading to a 500% increase in data usage within a year;

The signing of the EU-BP Roaming Declaration in 2022 between 38 telecom operators from the Western Balkans and the EU which resulted in significant reductions in roaming charges between the BB and the EU from 1 October 2023, increasing the use of roaming with 97%;

With the initiative of RCC, the opening of Green Lanes during the pandemic, ensuring the smooth transportation of key goods, preventing shortages and saving costs;

Together with regional partners, the Transport Community and CEFTA, the expansion of green lanes within the region and with the EU as well;

Approval/signing of 17 agreements/declarations, including mobility agendas, to facilitate the movement of citizens, students and professionals in the region;

Paving the way for the region to enter the EU single market by creating CRM2.

Bregu: Cooperation, as our strongest asset, remains our guiding principle

During the same period, the RCC became the main regional partner in coordinating the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. To promote the sustainable economic growth of Southeast Europe, together with regional partners, the RCC prepared the SEE2030 Strategy, which was adopted by all SEECP participants in 2021.

"This has not been an easy journey considering the high political tension in the region, but a worthwhile one nonetheless. These systematic results are reflected in the continued dominant support that the citizens of the Western Balkans have for regional cooperation. In our latest edition of the Balkans Barometer, support for regional cooperation is at 82%. Now, together with our regional and European partners, we are finalizing CRM 2.0 for approval on October 14 at the Berlin Summit," concluded Bregu, encouraging SEECP participants to expand further their engagement in the implementation of regional strategies, such as the SEE2030 Strategy coordinated by the RCC, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the Common Regional Market. She recalled that these strategies guide the sustainable development of the region by fostering regional cooperation and promoting economic growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Before the SEECP workshop, the Secretary General of the RCC met with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, to discuss the importance of the Euro-Atlantic and European integration of the region. The Deputy Assistant Secretary reiterated support for regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and moving forward with regional agendas, while praising the region's successes led by the RCC under the Secretary General's continued mandate./ CNA