The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Amer Kapetanović met yesterday in Vienna with the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, with whom he discussed regional security and resilience, the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the possibilities of closer cooperation between the two organizations.
The meeting discussed the increasingly complex geopolitical and security environment, new regional and transnational challenges and the importance of coordinated action in areas such as combating terrorism, serious and organized crime, border security, cyber security, capacity building, climate change and environmental security.
The two officials also discussed cooperation within the framework of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, including water management, cross-border cooperation and the impact of climate change on energy security.
“The RCC and the OSCE have been dedicated to peace, stability and cooperation in Southeast Europe for many years. At a time when security, environmental and geopolitical challenges are increasingly interconnected, our institutions must cooperate more closely, exchange information and make sure that our activities complement each other. Regional cooperation is of crucial importance for building trust, strengthening resilience and supporting the European future of the region,” Kapetanović said.
He highlighted the OSCE’s long-term contribution to post-conflict stabilization of the region, democratic development, security and trust building, and emphasized that the Council for Regional Cooperation is dedicated to preserving and further strengthening the partnership with this organization.
Kapetanović presented the work of the Council for Regional Cooperation in the field of regional security cooperation and highlighted the annual Regional Conference for Coordination in the Field of Security, known as the JUMBO Conference, as an important platform that brings together high-ranking officials, experts in the field of security, regional organizations and networks to discuss new security challenges and strengthening regional cooperation. On that occasion, he invited Sinirlioğlu to participate in one of the following conferences.
He also presented a regional survey of public opinion on security issues called SecuriMeter, which is conducted by the RCC, and whose findings provide evidence-based insight into citizens’ attitudes and can help in creating policies, analyzes and reporting on the Western Balkans.
The special topic of the meeting was the integration of the “Integrative Internal Security Management” initiative, funded by the European Union, into the broader security portfolio of the Council for Regional Cooperation and its transformation into the Center for Security Management of the Western Balkans, a regional platform for strategic cooperation in the field of security.
The center will connect policy priorities, operational needs and partner support, thereby contributing to more coordinated cooperation in areas such as combating terrorism, organized crime, border security and cyber security.
Kapetanović pointed out that cyber security is one of the areas in which more intensive regional coordination and regular exchange of experiences and information between the RCC, OSCE and partners could be of particular importance.
“The value of regional responsibility, continuous political dialogue and practical cooperation of institutions and international partners is crucial for overcoming common security challenges and strengthening resilience,” Sinirlioğlu emphasized.
He also highlighted the role that regional organizations can play in connecting political obligations with concrete activities and in strengthening resilience at the institutional level, but also at the level of the entire society.
The meeting also discussed the possibilities for closer cooperation in the field of climate and environmental security. Kapetanović highlighted the good cooperation between the Regional Cooperation Council and the OSCE, including cooperation with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the context of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans.
Kapetanović and Sinirlioğlu also discussed the importance of regular exchange of experiences and information, mutual participation in relevant activities, and identifying areas in which the activities of the two organizations can complement and strengthen each other.
The meeting reaffirmed the long-standing partnership between the Regional Cooperation Council and the OSCE, as well as their shared commitment to peace, security, resilience, democratic development, and stronger regional cooperation in South-Eastern Europe, the RCC said.
