Regional resilience, cybersecurity and climate security high on agenda as leaders meet in Vienna
VIENNA, June 23 (BV) — The heads of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called for closer cooperation to address growing security and resilience challenges in South East Europe, amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović met OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu in Vienna on Monday to discuss regional security, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations.
The talks focused on a range of cross-border challenges, including counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybersecurity, border management, climate change and environmental security, according to a statement from the RCC.
The two officials also discussed water management, energy security and the impact of climate-related risks on regional stability.
“The RCC and OSCE share a longstanding commitment to peace, stability and cooperation in South East Europe,” Kapetanović said.
“At a time when security, environmental and geopolitical challenges are increasingly interconnected, our institutions must cooperate more closely, exchange information and ensure that our efforts reinforce one another.”
The meeting comes at a time when the Western Balkans faces growing geopolitical competition, hybrid threats, cyber risks and increasing pressure to align more closely with European security standards.
Kapetanović highlighted the RCC’s security initiatives, including the Regional Security Coordination Conference (JUMBO) and SecuriMeter, a regional public opinion survey that measures perceptions of security across the Western Balkans.
The officials also reviewed the transformation of the EU-funded Integrative Internal Security Governance initiative into the Western Balkans Security Governance Hub, a platform designed to improve strategic coordination among regional institutions and international partners.
Sinirlioğlu stressed the importance of regional ownership, political dialogue and practical cooperation in addressing shared security challenges.
He said regional organisations play a crucial role in translating political commitments into concrete actions and strengthening resilience at both institutional and societal levels.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges, encourage participation in each other’s initiatives and deepen cooperation in areas where the RCC and OSCE can complement one another.
The meeting reflects growing efforts by regional and international organisations to strengthen security cooperation as the Western Balkans moves closer to European integration and faces a changing geopolitical landscape.
Hook
As geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and climate risks reshape Europe’s security environment, the RCC and OSCE are pushing for a stronger regional response in the Western Balkans.
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