Dr. Umut Ergezer

Second meeting of the SEE Regional Network on Disaster Risk Insurance and Risk Sharing organised by the RCC and hosted by @asf_romania took place in #Bucharest, where representatives of insurance regulatory authorities, insurance and reinsurance associations from across #SouthEastEurope, alongside partners discussed progress and next steps in strengthening financial protection against disasters. “Regional cooperation in South East Europe is key to making disaster insurance accessible and affordable. Through public-private partnerships, regulatory cooperation, bankable solutions and all-inclusive, transparent and accountable processes under the SEE2030 Strategy, we can strengthen disaster resilience across the region,” said RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer opening the meeting. Alongside RCC DSG Ergezer, the meeting was opened by Clara Staicu, @MAERomania State Secretary; Alexandru Petrescu, @asf_romania President; and Cristian Ilie, Counsellor at the General Secretariat of @GuvernulRo. Read more 👉🏻 rcc.int/news/1091/rcc-advanc… #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer met with @Eurochambres CEO @BenJButters ⏭️ with the upcoming Connectivity Forum, business expectations linked to EU enlargement, and economic resilience among the key topics discussed. The two explored opportunities to draw on complementary insights from RCC’s Balkan Barometer and Eurochambres’ Economic Survey to better understand business expectations. They also discussed natural disaster insurance and regional risk-sharing as ways to strengthen business resilience, particularly for SMEs. Creating more opportunities for businesses to connect can mean creating more opportunities for the region to grow. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer moderated a panel on the EU Anti-Corruption Strategy at the Berlin Process side event “Strengthening integrity and anti-corruption in South-East Europe” with @eu_enlargement_’s Deputy Head of Unit for Western Balkans Regional Strategy and Investment, Enrica Chiozza; Silvana Ramadani, Advisor to Minister of State for Public Administration and Anti-Corruption; @PravdaCG’s State Secretary, Jelena Grdinić, and @mpudt_rh’s Director General Mladen Bručić-Matic today Tirana ⏭️ where discussion highlighted the importance of aligning regional reforms with EU standards, strengthening institutional integrity and public trust, and advancing practical cooperation across South East Europe. Drawing on RCC’s flagship #BalkanBarometer and #SecuriMeter findings, RCC DSG underlined the importance of public trust in institutions and evidence-based policymaking 👉🏻 Integrity and good governance are not only rule-of-law priorities, but also essential for economic competitiveness, the Common Regional Market and the Western Balkans’ EU integration. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

We are looking for the 2025 Champion of Regional Cooperation! NOMINATE NOW! Because someone will win Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award ⏭️ and a 10k EUR financial reward attached to it. Who can you nominate? ✅ individuals or organisations from #SouthEastEurope 🌐 that work across the region or have a regional impact 🤝 create a lasting benefit for the region All info & nomination form 👉🏻 rcc.int/championofregionalco… Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award is #poweredbyRCC & sponsored by @MFA_Austria. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

From mountain peaks and winding rivers to hidden lakes, forests and coastlines 👉🏻 the nature of #SouthEastEurope is made to be explored. One region. Endless natural beauty. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺 #VisitSouthEastEurope

we remember

RCC welcomed Ambassadors and Embassy representatives to a briefing meeting on #SEE2030 Strategy Mid-Term Update hosted by RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer, Head of Political department @JankovicPavle and Coordinator of the SEE 2030 Strategy @ShenoIseni in #Sarajevo today ⏭️ “The SEE2030 Strategy update is not about changing our ambition, but about making it more actionable. By sharpening the focus on resilience, inclusive growth and regional cooperation, and by placing public–private partnerships and competitiveness at the centre of implementation, we are strengthening a region-led framework that can deliver practical, feasible and tangible results for South East Europe,” said RCC Deputy Secretary General #poweredbyRCC

RCC together with @ELIAMEPgr co-hosted side event at @GLOBSEC today in #Prague ⏭️ bringing together policymakers and experts to discuss how #RegionalCooperation and EU enlargement can jointly strengthen security, support economic convergence, and contribute to a more resilient #SouthEastEurope and Europe In addition to RCC Head of the Political Department @JankovicPavle, the panel brought together: - @VladoBilcik, Senior Fellow at GLOBSEC; - Christian Schmidt, @OHR_BiH High Representative; - Dr Predrag Zenović, Chief Negotiator of Montenegro; - @profbagci, Professor at @METU_ODTU’s; - Dr. Ana Krstinovska, Research Fellow at ELIAMEP, - and Frauke Seebass, Visiting Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs They discussed how #RegionalCooperation can make #EU integration more concrete & visible, and highlighted the importance of linking reforms with: 💼 economic opportunities, 🏛️ institutional trust 🛡️ and human security, 🇪🇺 so that enlargement is understood not only as a geopolitical process, but as a way to improve people’s daily lives. Regional cooperation remains essential to ensuring that future EU accession strengthens the region’s resilience and connectivity. Read more 👉🏻 rcc.int/news/1026/rcc-with-e… #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺 #GLOBSEC2026

Tomorrow at #GLOBSEC2026, RCC and @eliamepgr to co-host the side session “From Policy to People: Security and Opportunity through Regional Cooperation and EU Enlargement” with RCC Head of Political Department @JankovicPavle, @OHR_BiH High Representative Christian Schmidt, @eliamepgr's Ana Krstinovska, Chief Negotiator of Montenegro Predrag Zenović, @GLOBSEC’s @VladoBilcik, @METU_ODTU’s @profbagci and German Institute for International and Security Affairs’s Frauke Seebass ⏭️ to explore how regional cooperation and EU enlargement can strengthen security, resilience, and opportunity for citizens in #SouthEastEurope. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

Productive meeting between RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer and @EU_EESC’s @TzonkaI in #Brussels ⏭️ discussions focused on future activities under the updated #SEE2030 Strategy, advancing the #UN2030Agenda across #SouthEastEurope, and potential for cooperation. Disaster risk insurance, risk sharing, and brain drain remain some of the areas where regional cooperation can make a difference for citizens and businesses of the region. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

The 7th meeting of #SEE2030 Strategy Monitoring Committee co-organised with the Sofia SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office took place in #Sofia ⏭️ bringing together delegations from across #SouthEastEurope. Following the welcoming remarks by RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer and @MFABulgaria's Ivaylo Iordanov, Head of the Regional Cooperation Department, the Committee reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Strategy, with a strong focus on translating #RegionalCooperation into concrete, and investment-ready results. Read more 👉🏻 rcc.int/news/1015/see2030-mo… #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

The #SEE2030 Strategy Coordinator, Shenasi Iseni at the closing plenary session of @UNECE 2026 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development co-chaired by Romania and North Macedonia in #Geneva said ⏭️ “GDP increases regardless of how money is spent, whether one euro is invested in defence or in healthcare. Yet, not all expenditures contribute equally to people’s well-being, and this is precisely why we need complementary indicators.” He also shared RCC’s efforts under the inclusive growth pillar of SEE2030 to ensure that progress is not only faster, but also fairer, more resilient, and more sustainable. RCC stays committed to keep working on complementing aggregate economic indicators with evidence-based insights and ongoing dialogue. #poweredbyRCC #SouthEastEurope2030

International Women’s Day reminds us that although significant progress has been made so far, #GenderGaps in the #WesternBalkansSix labour market still persist: 💼 Women are employed by 20% less than men 🏠 Women still carry most unpaid care and domestic responsibilities 💸 Women earn 9–12% less than men, while their pensions are around 40% lower Gender equality cannot remain only a policy objective, they require practical measures, from childcare to reskilling opportunities. Read the full press release 👉🏻 rcc.int/news/1003/in-the-wes… #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

RCC Deputy Secretary General @UmutErgezer was in #Brussels today where he had meetings with Director of @UNinBrussels & @UNDPEU, @camillabruckner; as well as with Veronique Jacobs, @worldbankgroup’s Special Representative to the European Union, Belgium, Luxembourg and NATO. The discussions revolved around sustainable development, investment and trade opportunities, as well as the regional agendas #SEE2030 Strategy and #CommonRegionalMarket. With sustainable development at the core of regional cooperation, #SouthEastEurope can be set for a more resilient future. #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺 #STGs #CRM #GreenAgenda

Last week in #Brussels we presented the #BalkanBarometer2025 ⏭️ the most comprehensive regional overview of public & business perceptions across the #WesternBalkans Some of the findings show that: 🤝 64% of citizens are confident that regional cooperation can improve the economic situation 🇪🇺 26% of people are hopeful about joining the EU by 2030 🙋🏻‍♂️ 6.8 is the score for labour force shortages as a factor affecting business growth 🪪 66% of businesses anticipate benefits from travelling across the #WB using only an ID card 📱 39% of businesses say that roaming-free travel within the #WB has reduced their operational costs Check out more #BB2025 findings 👉🏻 rcc.int/balkanbarometer/ #poweredbyRCC 🇪🇺

Yesterday in #Athens, RCC hosted the 1st meeting of the #SEE Regional Network on Disaster Risk Insurance & Risk Sharing, established under the #SEE2030 Strategy. #SouthEastEurope is now one of Europe’s most climate-exposed regions ⏭️ 11 of Europe’s 13 major wildfires in 2024 occurred here, while only 12–13% of households have disaster insurance. Opening remarks: 🔹 @UmutErgezer, RCC Deputy SG 🔹 @htheoharis, @GreeceMFA's Deputy Minister 🔹 Elina Papaspyropoulou, Director General of Hellenic Association of Insurance Companies “Only 1 in 10 households in the Western Balkans is insured. This Network helps us move from fragmented efforts to shared regional solutions.” ⏭️ said RCC DSG Umut Ergezer RCC’s Senior Political Advisor, Shenasi Iseni, presented the mandate and Work Programme of the Network, followed by contributions from international partners. Key topics: 👉🏻 global & EU insurance trends 👉🏻 risk-pooling models 👉🏻 data & post-disaster cost methodologies 👉🏻 public–private partnerships 👉🏻 options for a regional feasibility study RCC continues to drive regional cooperation to make disaster insurance more accessible, affordable & sustainable for the region. 🌍 Read more 👉🏻 rcc.int/news/990/rcc-hosts-f…

This week we were in #Skopje for the 10th Regional Security Coordination Conference organised by RCC with the support of @ItalyMFA and @Viminale, and in partnership with @VladaMK. Two days of ministers, senior officials, and security practitioners from the #WesternBalkans, Italy, and the European Union strengthening regional cooperation and resilience by encouraging a collaborative approach to security challenges. This year’s edition builds on a decade of security cooperation across our region. #poweredbyRCC #JumboSecurityConference #security