19th Coordination Meeting of Regional Organisations - 4 December, Sarajevo
The Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) Permanent Secretariat took part in the 19th Coordination Meeting of Regional Organisations, hosted on 4 December by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) at its Secretariat in Sarajevo. The meeting gathered Secretaries General and senior representatives of the RCC, CEI, BSEC and AII to discuss how smarter, more resilient and sustainable connectivity can foster inclusive economic development and strengthen regional cooperation across South-East Europe.
The meeting opened with introductory remarks by Amer Kapetanović, RCC Secretary General; Giovanni Castellaneta, Secretary General of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII); Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC); and Franco Dal Mas, Secretary General of the Central European Initiative (CEI).
Alongside delegations of RCC, CEI, BSEC and AII, the meeting also gathered representatives of the Sofia Chairmanship-in-Office of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), the World Bank, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina Chairmanship of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). Discussions focused on the theme “Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Connectivity among the Regions: Enhancing sustainable and inclusive economic development for resilience through connectivity among the regions and regional cooperation.”
In his remarks, AII Secretary General Ambassador Giovanni Castellaneta highlighted the centrality of connectivity to the AII’s mission, recalling the Initiative’s role in promoting political dialogue, regional stability and economic cooperation across a space linking EU Member States, the Western Balkans and the wider Mediterranean. He underlined the importance of strengthening transport, energy and digital links, advancing people-to-people mobility, and supporting the European integration process of the Western Balkans. Ambassador Castellaneta also reiterated the AII’s commitment to closer coordination with other regional frameworks, building on existing cooperation instruments such as the AII–CEI Memorandum of Understanding and the Letter of Intent with BSEC.
During the tour de table, delegations exchanged insights on strategic priorities, ongoing transformation agendas and future coordination needs. Participants discussed opportunities for joint analytical work, possible project-based cooperation, enhanced visibility actions, and structured mechanisms to reduce duplication and deliver greater impact across the region.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong commitment of all participating organisations to deepen cooperation, strengthen resilience and advance a more connected, competitive and sustainable South-East Europe. The AII reiterated its readiness to contribute actively to joint efforts, including in areas such as transport and energy connectivity, youth and academic cooperation, environmental resilience and digital transformation.
The next Coordination Meeting of Regional Organisations will be hosted by the Organisation of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC).