Secretary General of the Council for Regional Cooperation (RCC), Amer Kapetanovic, spoke today at the League Forum in Tirana 2025, addressing leaders, officials and experts from all over Europe and the Western Balkans.
In his speech, Kapetanovic emphasized the importance of cooperation, confidence and time to advance the region’s European integration agenda, based on the findings of the main RCC surveys-the Balkan Barometer and Securimetry-which reflect at the same time optimism and impatience among citizens.
“Our citizens are telling us two things at the same time: they are optimistic about what Europe can bring, but at the same time they are concerned about whether this will happen in time. Therefore, the Regional Cooperation Council focuses on turning optimism into concrete results-reducing roaming fees, facilitating trade, strengthening mobility, advancing and lending. Sustainability, ”Kapetanovic said.
The RCC Secretary General emphasized the role of the Council as a regional bridge that connects EU member states and aspirants through initiatives such as the Common Regional Market 2025–2028 and the Green Agenda, preparing the region at the same time for the challenges of the future, such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
Kapetanovic added: “Careful optimism is not naived. It means being realistic about the dangers, but to reject paralysis. Enlargement should not be remembered as fatigue, but as a renovation of Europe – with Southeast Europe at its center.”
Within the forum, Secretary General Kapetanović met with the Minister appointed for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania, Elisa Spiropalli. They discussed Albania’s European integration path, the priorities of regional cooperation and the importance of maintaining the pace in providing concrete benefits to citizens.
