Tirana, Albania – The 2nd Governing Board (GB) Meeting of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) took place in Tirana, Albania, Chaired by Blendi Klosi, Minister of Social Welfare and Youth of Albania, and Co-Chaired of Dafina Peci, Youth Representative of Albania. The meeting gathered government representatives and youth delegates from the Western Balkans Six (WB6) – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, alongside international partners such as the OSCE and Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
The primary focus of the meeting was to finalize crucial steps in making RYCO operational, particularly the establishment of the RYCO Secretariat and the appointment of key personnel.
Significant Decisions and Outcomes
The Governing Board addressed several key issues that marked a milestone in RYCO’s development:
- Updates on the RYCO Agreement Ratification Process: Each Contracting Party provided an update on the ratification process. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro confirmed that their respective parliaments were in the process of ratifying the Agreement, with budget allocations for RYCO contributions secured for 2017. North Macedonia and Kosovo* also confirmed their financial commitments, with the Agreement nearing final approval.
- Appointment of the Secretary General: Following a rigorous selection process, the Governing Board conducted in-depth interviews with shortlisted candidates. After two rounds of voting, Mr. Djuro Blanusa was appointed as the first Secretary General of RYCO, marking a significant step towards the organization’s operationalization.
- Open Call for Deputy Secretary General: The Governing Board agreed to launch an open call for the Deputy Secretary General position. A key decision was made to ensure that the Deputy Secretary General would not be from the same Contracting Party as the Secretary General. The application process would commence following the official appointment of the Secretary General.
- Selection of Secretariat Staff: While an open call for Secretariat staff was discussed, the Board decided to allow more time for finalizing the organizational structure and staffing plan. This topic was postponed for further deliberation in the next Governing Board meeting.
Looking Ahead
The meeting concluded with the announcement that the next Governing Board meeting would be held in Berlin, Germany. The upcoming session will focus on RYCO’s strategic direction and include engagements with German officials to strengthen regional and international cooperation. With these key decisions in place, RYCO moves closer to becoming a fully operational institution dedicated to fostering youth cooperation and reconciliation across the Western Balkans region.
This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.