Bregu with Commissioners Varhelyi and Gabriel: The Council remains a reliable partner of the European Union in the region

(Patria) - "2020 is a key year for the region and the mutual relations of the European Union and the Western Balkans, but also for smooth economic growth. The Regional Cooperation Council remains a reliable partner of the European Union in the region, as well as of the region in the European Union. We all have great hopes and expectations regarding new, positive developments during the Croatian Presidency of the European Union and from the upcoming summit in March. The essence of this process is joint work on clearly defined programs aimed at a common goal, which is a stronger and more complete Europe," said the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu at a meeting with the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations Oliver Varhelyi.

Commissioner Varhelyi emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in the Western Balkans for accelerating economic development and European integration. During an official visit to Brussels, Secretary General Bregu also met with the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Youth and Sport Mariya Gabriel, with whom she discussed the Regional Cooperation Council's upcoming project "Youth Lab," funded by the European Union, as well as models for increasing women's participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as part of a project that the Council is implementing together with the UNDP.

"Young people are the region's greatest potential for change and growth, and focusing on them is something we all need to do, especially us in the Western Balkans, because the demographic statistics are frightening. The total number of working-age population in the region has decreased by over 400,000 people in the past 5 years, including young people leaving abroad in search of employment or education," Bregu emphasized.

"The Regional Cooperation Council has taken this seriously and with the support of the European Union, as well as our partners from the region, we plan to find solutions within the new regional project Youth Lab that would help and lead to the improvement of policies in the Western Balkan economies that would retain young people in the region."

Commissioner Gabriel confirmed the strong support of the European Union for the Western Balkans' priorities in the fields of innovation, education, youth, research, and culture.

The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, along with her team, attended the regular meeting of the Working Group on the Western Balkans (COWEB) held yesterday in Brussels, where EU-region relations were discussed.