Tirana, Albania – The 16th Governing Board (GB) Meeting of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) was held via videoconference, bringing together representatives from the Western Balkans to discuss and finalize strategic and operational plans for the upcoming year. Moderated by Marko Begović, Acting Director of the Directorate for Sports and Youth of Montenegro, the meeting marked a pivotal moment in setting the course for 2022, reflecting on past achievements and aligning on future priorities.
Key Decisions and Discussions
- Adoption of the Agenda: The agenda was unanimously adopted, with a slight modification to include a new project proposal focusing on youth mobility.
- Adoption of Minutes from the 15th GB Meeting: The adoption of the minutes was postponed to January 2022 for further review and refinement.
- RYCO Strategy 2022-2024: While the strategy was initially presented and discussed, it was not adopted. The Board agreed to revise the document based on feedback and finalize its approval electronically in January 2022.
- Operational Plan 2022: The proposed operational plan was also postponed for further revisions, with plans to approve it electronically alongside the strategic plan.
- Budget 2022: The budget for 2022 was adopted by majority vote, ensuring financial stability and support for RYCO’s key initiatives throughout the year.
- List of Supported Applications in the Superschools Project: The list of selected applications was adopted by majority vote, supporting further regional educational exchange initiatives.
- List of RYCO Advisory Board: The updated list was adopted with nine votes in favor, reinforcing RYCO’s advisory structure.
- Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs):
- MoU with AAB College was not adopted (4 votes in favor, 1 against, 4 abstentions).
- MoUs with the University of Donja Gorica, the University of Novi Sad, and Aleksandër Xhuvani University were adopted with 8 votes in favor and 1 abstention.
- Vehicle Policy: The policy was adopted with nine votes in favor, ensuring streamlined mobility procedures for RYCO operations.
- Revised Provisional Rules of Procedure: The proposed amendments to the rules were not adopted, with eight votes in favor and one against.
Reflections on 2021 and Outlook for 2022
RYCO Secretary General, Albert Hani, presented an overview of the institution’s achievements in 2021, highlighting key institutional and organizational developments. He emphasized the importance of systematic consolidation, decentralization, and the implementation of long-term sustainable projects. Discussions also centered on increasing RYCO’s visibility and engagement with young people across the Western Balkans.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering regional youth cooperation and reconciliation. With critical discussions shaping the organization’s next steps, the Governing Board reaffirmed its dedication to effectively implementing RYCO’s strategic and operational plans in the year ahead.