Regional cooperation is not a political formality but a strategic necessity for credible European integration, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Amer Kapetanović, said on Tuesday at the opening of the Adria Future Summit in Tivat.
The summit opened with remarks by Biljana Brejtvaijt of Sustineri Partners, Predrag Leković of Porto Montenegro and Tivat Mayor Željko Komnenović. Speaking at the main session on “Regional Cooperation and the Path to EU Integration,” Kapetanović said that amid growing geopolitical fragmentation and economic uncertainty, the Western Balkans must choose greater coherence over division.
“If EU membership is our main goal, and it is, then the road to Brussels runs through your neighbour’s yard. Regional cooperation is not a formality, but a condition for credible accession,” he said.
He added that the region’s competitiveness and attractiveness to investors will depend on its ability to deliver concrete results, including mobility, digital integration, green transition and market integration.
“Capital will follow implementation, not rhetoric. The region is strategically positioned, but it must become more predictable, interoperable and attractive for investment,” he said.
Kapetanović highlighted the role of the Regional Cooperation Council in turning political commitments into practical cooperation, particularly through the Common Regional Market and the outcomes of the Berlin Process, aimed at reducing barriers and preparing the region for gradual integration into the EU Single Market.
The Adria Future Summit, held from April 22 to 24 in Tivat, brings together government leaders, businesses, investors and international organisations to advance dialogue on sustainable development, innovation and investment in Southeast Europe.
As part of the summit, the Regional Cooperation Council will contribute to discussions on the region’s future. Later on Tuesday, Kapetanović is scheduled to take part in the fifth Regional Fireside Chat organised by the Western Balkans Youth Lab, funded by the EU, focusing on youth participation.
On Thursday, he will open the mid-term review conference of the Youth Policy Lab on disinformation and media literacy, underlining the importance of structured youth participation and regional cooperation in building a more resilient and forward-looking Southeast Europe.
The Regional Cooperation Council is a regional framework established in 2008 as the successor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and serves as the operational arm of the South East European Cooperation Process. Headquartered in Sarajevo with a liaison office in Brussels, it provides a platform for political dialogue and cooperation among 25 participants, including EU member states and G20 countries.