The Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, Amer Kapetanović, has called for the intensification of cooperation between the Western Balkan countries in the fight against organized crime, warning that criminal networks operate across borders faster than the institutions that are supposed to fight them.
Speaking at the Berlin Process Interior Ministers' Meeting, held on September 15 and 16 in Podgorica, Kapetanović said that cracking down on organized crime in the Western Balkans is not only a matter of regional security, but also of European security.
"Every shipment stopped in our region is a shipment that will not have to be stopped in Vienna, Berlin, Paris or London. This is not only beneficial for the region, but it is security for all of us. Criminals cooperate across our borders without joint declarations. Let us cooperate at least as quickly," he said.
The meeting took place in Vila Gorica, under the Montenegrin Chairmanship of the Berlin Process for 2026. Kapetanović spoke at the session dedicated to strengthening resilience against organized crime, which was attended by representatives of the Western Balkans Six, the European Commission and international partners.
The RCC Secretary General also brought to attention the high perception of citizens about corruption and crime. According to the latest RCC SecuriMeter data, 81% of citizens surveyed believe that corruption is widespread, while 72% express concern about organized crime.
Kapetanović called for better use of regional data and evidence to identify security gaps, as well as more attention to ports, transport networks and logistics, which can be exploited by criminal groups.
According to him, closer cooperation between police, customs and logistics operators is also needed, as well as strengthening the connection between personnel security, information and digital systems.
Another area where Kapetanović called for continued regional cooperation is firearms control. He referred to the experience gained through the Western Balkans Roadmap on Small Arms and Light Weapons Control and cooperation with SEESAC.
The session was chaired by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, Danilo Šaranović, while representatives of the Western Balkan countries and the European Commission participated in the discussion.
The discussion on regional security will continue at the JUMBO Regional Security Conference, which the RCC will host in Tirana in November. The conference will focus on the effectiveness of support for security institutions, the gaps that continue to exist, and areas where stronger coordination is required between countries in the region.
