Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapetanović said that implementing this year’s Berlin Process commitments will make the Western Balkans more competitive and sustainable, as regional and European leaders met in London on Wednesday.
Kapetanović took part in the Berlin Process Leaders’ Summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which gathered Western Balkan and EU leaders to discuss migration, security and economic growth.
Presenting the region’s joint efforts to promote sustainable development, Kapetanović outlined a package of 15 deliverables coordinated by the RCC. The measures focus on sustainable investment, the Green Agenda, regional tourism branding and portability of social rights.
“The results speak for themselves — fifteen concrete, RCC-led deliverables that will strengthen cooperation in sustainable investment, green transition, tourism and social rights,” Kapetanović said. “Together, we have a real chance to keep the region on a path of sustained growth and convergence with the EU.”
He welcomed the United Kingdom’s accession to the RCC Board, joining 25 governments and the European Union in what he called a “club working for a better connected, more resilient region steadily advancing towards EU membership.”
Kapetanović stressed the need for rapid implementation of the agreed commitments, noting that 82% of Western Balkan citizens believe regional cooperation improves political, economic and security conditions by delivering tangible results.
Summit leaders commended the RCC’s contribution and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation under the Berlin Process, recognising the RCC’s key role in coordinating and achieving regional outcomes.
On the sidelines of the Summit, Kapetanović met with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Borjana Krišto, to discuss the implementation of agreed commitments and ongoing RCC-supported initiatives.