Foreign ministers endorse RCC report and call for stronger regional integration ahead of Sofia summit
SOFIA, June 10 (BV) — Foreign ministers from South East Europe endorsed the annual report of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) on Wednesday, reaffirming support for regional cooperation and European integration as the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) marked its 30th anniversary.
Meeting under Bulgaria’s Chairmanship-in-Office, ministers approved the RCC Annual Report and welcomed the organisation’s role in promoting cooperation and delivering practical benefits for citizens, businesses, and institutions across the Western Balkans and wider South East Europe.
The meeting, held under the theme “A Shared Compass for a Stable, Secure and Sustainable Region – 30 Years of Regional Ownership and European Aspiration,” brought together foreign ministers and heads of delegations ahead of the SEECP Summit of Heads of State and Government in Sofia.
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said the anniversary should serve not only as a moment of reflection but also as an opportunity to adapt regional cooperation to changing geopolitical realities.
“Thirty years ago, SEECP was founded on the belief that South East Europe needed a platform for dialogue owned by the region itself. Today, that ownership has produced tangible results, from the SEE2030 Strategy and free regional roaming to green transition initiatives and security cooperation,” Kapetanović said.
He stressed that regional ownership must become “more strategic, more focused and more useful” for citizens and markets in the years ahead.
Ministers endorsed the SEECP Summit Declaration and emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in key areas, including connectivity, competitiveness, resilience, sustainable development, digital transformation, human capital, and security cooperation.
The gathering also highlighted three decades of SEECP as the region’s main political forum for dialogue and cooperation. Participants were presented with a special publication documenting the evolution and achievements of the process, prepared with RCC support and the Bulgarian Chairmanship.
The SEECP Summit of Heads of State and Government, taking place later in Sofia, is expected to focus on strengthening regional unity, advancing European aspirations, and enhancing cooperation in response to growing geopolitical and economic challenges.
The meeting comes at a time when the European Union is placing renewed emphasis on enlargement and regional stability amid heightened security concerns across the continent.