Bregu raises concern about "brain drain" / "Our commitment, sustainable security"

2024-11-07 16:47:00, Aktualitet CNA

Bregu raises concern about "brain drain" / "Our commitment,

Majlinda Bregu, General Secretary of RCC

The 9th Regional Security Coordination Conference, entitled "Cooperation in Times of Global Insecurity", organized by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and the Ministry of the Interior of Italy, was opened today in Sarajevo.

Majlinda Bregu, the General Secretary of the RCC raised the concern about the 'brain drain' and stated that the commitment should focus on building a stable, adaptive and forward-looking security framework.

“Our region is affected by almost every global challenge and our security landscape is evolving rapidly. Migration is not just a flow of people; it is a matter of national security. Brain drain is now a security threat, not just an economic issue. We face climate change, natural disasters and, due to growing cyber threats, we are constantly under attack, where our personal lives can be violated and invaded at any moment. We urgently need to prioritize awareness, knowledge and skills, align legislation with the EU and join forces with the EU on several fronts," said Bregu, in her welcoming speech.

"While the EU has started to build a 'True European Defense Union' and create a 'True Common Market for Defence', the Western Balkans must be kept within the framework, monitoring the security challenges. So our commitment to building a sustainable, adaptive and forward-looking security framework is imperative. By cooperating in the areas of cyber security, arms control, resilience to climate change and more, we are not only improving security for the Western Balkans, but for all of Europe,” concluded Bregu.

In addition to Ms. Bregu, welcoming remarks were made by Edin Dilberovi?, Temporary Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Thomas Botzios, Director for the Adriatic and the Balkans at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy; and Stefano Gambacurta, Deputy. Director General of Public Security at the Ministry of the Interior of Italy, who said that this event represents the strong commitment to build together a safe environment for the citizens of this region and the EU, but also to strengthen the resilience of societies ours.

Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe, delivered a keynote speech at the conference, which focused on strengthening regional security cooperation in the Western Balkans in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty. This event addresses key security challenges facing the region, including organized crime, corruption, cyber threats and disinformation, while also aligning with EU standards and integration objectives.

The goals of the conference are to strengthen regional stability, develop actionable security recommendations and facilitate cooperation between sectors. Event participants engage in discussions and working groups on critical topics such as border security, migration, organized crime and cyber security. The focus of the conference is also on the strategic role of the region in European security, emphasizing the importance of a stable and secure Western Balkans for regional and EU interests.

The Regional Security Coordination Conference, organized by the RCC for the ninth consecutive year, has gathered over 100 participants, including government officials, security experts.