The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) and Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria (BMEIA) have announced that the winner of the Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek Award for 2022 is No Borders Orchestra (NBO).

Among many nominees received this year, the jury, comprising of Goran Svilanovic, former RCC Secretary General; Asja Krsmanovic, Competition Programme Manager at Sarajevo Film Festival; and Umut Ergezer, RCC SEE 2030 Strategy Coordinator/Senior Economic Policy Analyst, unanimously selected NBO as the winner for 2022. The winner of this prestigious title will get financial reward in the amount 5,000 euro. We thank all the great many nominees, and wish them luck next year.

The Champion of Regional Cooperation is an annual award inaugurated by RCC in February 2013 marking the organisation’s 5th anniversary. In 2022, in cooperation with BMEIA, the award has changed its title to Champion of Regional Cooperation Dr Erhard Busek, honouring posthumously Mr Busek who was the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the RCC’s predecessor, but also a staunch supporter of the Western Balkans and avid advocate of the region’s integration into the European Union.