The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community (“the Secretariat”) is an institution set up under the Treaty to provide administrative support to the other institutions of the Transport Community (the Ministerial Council, the Regional Steering Committee, the technical committees and the Social Forum).
The Secretariat acts as Transport Observatory to monitor the performance of the indicative TEN-T extension of the comprehensive and core networks to the Western Balkans and supports the implementation of the Western Balkans Six (WB6) Connectivity Agenda aiming to improve links within the Western Balkans as well as between the region and the European Union.
The Secretariat also reviews the implementation of the obligations under the Treaty.
Matej Zakonjšek
Director
mzakonjsek@transport-community.org
Matej Zakonjšek is an experienced government and private-sector leader dedicated to supporting the integration of Western Balkans’ transport markets into the European Union. He began his career as a diplomatic attaché at the permanent representation of Slovenia to the European Union, focusing on the enlargement process of the EU. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008, his focus was the European Union’s relations with Asia and Oceania, including 27 countries and six regional organisations.
Subsequently, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Embassy of Slovenia in London, where he worked on economic and trade cooperation between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. He also assisted the representative of Slovenia to the International Maritime Organization. In 2011, he ventured into the private sector as General Manager for the Indian multinational CKGS, initially based in London, overseeing the European region, and later in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for the Middle East and North Africa markets.
Returning to Slovenia in 2014, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Miro Cerar as a Foreign Trade and Cooperation Advisor. In 2015 he was appointed Head of Cabinet for the EU Commissioner for Transport. In this role, he led and organised the cabinet, supporting the Commissioner in formulating, communicating, and implementing EU transport policy.
In December 2019, Mr Zakonjšek joined the European Commission’s Directorate for Mobility and Transport, focusing on the EU’s transport relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. Following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, he was appointed the first Director of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat on 6 July 2020.
Based on the proposal of the European Commission and following the positive opinion of the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee has decided to renew Mr Zakonjšek’s mandate for a period of three years, starting from August 2023.
Matej Zakonjšek
Director
mzakonjsek@transport-community.org
Matej Zakonjšek is an experienced government and private-sector leader dedicated to supporting the integration of Western Balkans’ transport markets into the European Union. He began his career as a diplomatic attaché at the permanent representation of Slovenia to the European Union, focusing on the enlargement process of the EU. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008, his focus was the European Union’s relations with Asia and Oceania, including 27 countries and six regional organisations.
Subsequently, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Embassy of Slovenia in London, where he worked on economic and trade cooperation between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. He also assisted the representative of Slovenia to the International Maritime Organization. In 2011, he ventured into the private sector as General Manager for the Indian multinational CKGS, initially based in London, overseeing the European region, and later in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for the Middle East and North Africa markets.
Returning to Slovenia in 2014, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Miro Cerar as a Foreign Trade and Cooperation Advisor. In 2015 he was appointed Head of Cabinet for the EU Commissioner for Transport. In this role, he led and organised the cabinet, supporting the Commissioner in formulating, communicating, and implementing EU transport policy.
In December 2019, Mr Zakonjšek joined the European Commission’s Directorate for Mobility and Transport, focusing on the EU’s transport relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. Following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, he was appointed the first Director of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat on 6 July 2020.
Based on the proposal of the European Commission and following the positive opinion of the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee has decided to renew Mr Zakonjšek’s mandate for a period of three years, starting from August 2023.
Matej Zakonjšek
Director
mzakonjsek@transport-community.org
Matej Zakonjšek is an experienced government and private-sector leader dedicated to supporting the integration of Western Balkans’ transport markets into the European Union. He began his career as a diplomatic attaché at the permanent representation of Slovenia to the European Union, focusing on the enlargement process of the EU. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008, his focus was the European Union’s relations with Asia and Oceania, including 27 countries and six regional organisations.
Subsequently, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Embassy of Slovenia in London, where he worked on economic and trade cooperation between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. He also assisted the representative of Slovenia to the International Maritime Organization. In 2011, he ventured into the private sector as General Manager for the Indian multinational CKGS, initially based in London, overseeing the European region, and later in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for the Middle East and North Africa markets.
Returning to Slovenia in 2014, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Miro Cerar as a Foreign Trade and Cooperation Advisor. In 2015 he was appointed Head of Cabinet for the EU Commissioner for Transport. In this role, he led and organised the cabinet, supporting the Commissioner in formulating, communicating, and implementing EU transport policy.
In December 2019, Mr Zakonjšek joined the European Commission’s Directorate for Mobility and Transport, focusing on the EU’s transport relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. Following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, he was appointed the first Director of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat on 6 July 2020.
Based on the proposal of the European Commission and following the positive opinion of the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee has decided to renew Mr Zakonjšek’s mandate for a period of three years, starting from August 2023.
Matej Zakonjšek
Director
mzakonjsek@transport-community.org
Matej Zakonjšek is an experienced government and private-sector leader dedicated to supporting the integration of Western Balkans’ transport markets into the European Union. He began his career as a diplomatic attaché at the permanent representation of Slovenia to the European Union, focusing on the enlargement process of the EU. During the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2008, his focus was the European Union’s relations with Asia and Oceania, including 27 countries and six regional organisations.
Subsequently, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Embassy of Slovenia in London, where he worked on economic and trade cooperation between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. He also assisted the representative of Slovenia to the International Maritime Organization. In 2011, he ventured into the private sector as General Manager for the Indian multinational CKGS, initially based in London, overseeing the European region, and later in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for the Middle East and North Africa markets.
Returning to Slovenia in 2014, Mr Zakonjšek joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Miro Cerar as a Foreign Trade and Cooperation Advisor. In 2015 he was appointed Head of Cabinet for the EU Commissioner for Transport. In this role, he led and organised the cabinet, supporting the Commissioner in formulating, communicating, and implementing EU transport policy.
In December 2019, Mr Zakonjšek joined the European Commission’s Directorate for Mobility and Transport, focusing on the EU’s transport relations with the countries of the Western Balkans. Following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, he was appointed the first Director of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat on 6 July 2020.
Based on the proposal of the European Commission and following the positive opinion of the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee has decided to renew Mr Zakonjšek’s mandate for a period of three years, starting from August 2023.
Ljuba Siljanoska
Deputy Director
ljsiljanoska@transport-community.org
Ljuba Siljanoska has over 23 years of experience in national and international settings, with 12 years specifically focused on transport sector development. Her expertise in EU pre-accession assistance has enabled her to actively support the national EU accession process, particularly within the transport portfolio.
Ms Siljanoska began her career at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung office in Skopje, working on good governance, political education, and leadership programmes. These programmes aimed to promote EU values, democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, and a social market economy, while also fostering talented students and individuals for leadership roles in society.
She then joined the Governmental Secretariat for European Affairs, where she continued to work on European integration. Her efforts included coordinating and supporting state administration authorities in preparing the country for EU membership, implementing reforms, modernising public services in line with EU standards, and utilising EU grant funding to support the overall integration process.
Ms Siljanoska’s professional engagement later led her to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, where she was involved in transport strategic planning and managing EU pre-accession assistance in the transport sector.
Throughout her career, she has built strong working relationships with stakeholders in Southeast Europe and the European Union, gaining valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the regional context of the Western Balkans and the EU integration process.
Due to her extensive experience, Ms Siljanoska was appointed Deputy Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Treaty in Belgrade, Serbia, by the Regional Steering Committee on 6 July 2020.
Based on a proposal from the European Commission and following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee decided to renew Ms Siljanoska’s mandate for three years, starting in September 2023.
Ljuba Siljanoska
Deputy Director
ljsiljanoska@transport-community.org
Ljuba Siljanoska has over 23 years of experience in national and international settings, with 12 years specifically focused on transport sector development. Her expertise in EU pre-accession assistance has enabled her to actively support the national EU accession process, particularly within the transport portfolio.
Ms Siljanoska began her career at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung office in Skopje, working on good governance, political education, and leadership programmes. These programmes aimed to promote EU values, democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, and a social market economy, while also fostering talented students and individuals for leadership roles in society.
She then joined the Governmental Secretariat for European Affairs, where she continued to work on European integration. Her efforts included coordinating and supporting state administration authorities in preparing the country for EU membership, implementing reforms, modernising public services in line with EU standards, and utilising EU grant funding to support the overall integration process.
Ms Siljanoska’s professional engagement later led her to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, where she was involved in transport strategic planning and managing EU pre-accession assistance in the transport sector.
Throughout her career, she has built strong working relationships with stakeholders in Southeast Europe and the European Union, gaining valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the regional context of the Western Balkans and the EU integration process.
Due to her extensive experience, Ms Siljanoska was appointed Deputy Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Treaty in Belgrade, Serbia, by the Regional Steering Committee on 6 July 2020.
Based on a proposal from the European Commission and following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee decided to renew Ms Siljanoska’s mandate for three years, starting in September 2023.
Ljuba Siljanoska
Deputy Director
ljsiljanoska@transport-community.org
Ljuba Siljanoska has over 23 years of experience in national and international settings, with 12 years specifically focused on transport sector development. Her expertise in EU pre-accession assistance has enabled her to actively support the national EU accession process, particularly within the transport portfolio.
Ms Siljanoska began her career at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung office in Skopje, working on good governance, political education, and leadership programmes. These programmes aimed to promote EU values, democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, and a social market economy, while also fostering talented students and individuals for leadership roles in society.
She then joined the Governmental Secretariat for European Affairs, where she continued to work on European integration. Her efforts included coordinating and supporting state administration authorities in preparing the country for EU membership, implementing reforms, modernising public services in line with EU standards, and utilising EU grant funding to support the overall integration process.
Ms Siljanoska’s professional engagement later led her to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, where she was involved in transport strategic planning and managing EU pre-accession assistance in the transport sector.
Throughout her career, she has built strong working relationships with stakeholders in Southeast Europe and the European Union, gaining valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the regional context of the Western Balkans and the EU integration process.
Due to her extensive experience, Ms Siljanoska was appointed Deputy Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Treaty in Belgrade, Serbia, by the Regional Steering Committee on 6 July 2020.
Based on a proposal from the European Commission and following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee decided to renew Ms Siljanoska’s mandate for three years, starting in September 2023.
Ljuba Siljanoska
Deputy Director
ljsiljanoska@transport-community.org
Ljuba Siljanoska has over 23 years of experience in national and international settings, with 12 years specifically focused on transport sector development. Her expertise in EU pre-accession assistance has enabled her to actively support the national EU accession process, particularly within the transport portfolio.
Ms Siljanoska began her career at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung office in Skopje, working on good governance, political education, and leadership programmes. These programmes aimed to promote EU values, democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, and a social market economy, while also fostering talented students and individuals for leadership roles in society.
She then joined the Governmental Secretariat for European Affairs, where she continued to work on European integration. Her efforts included coordinating and supporting state administration authorities in preparing the country for EU membership, implementing reforms, modernising public services in line with EU standards, and utilising EU grant funding to support the overall integration process.
Ms Siljanoska’s professional engagement later led her to the Ministry of Transport and Communication, where she was involved in transport strategic planning and managing EU pre-accession assistance in the transport sector.
Throughout her career, she has built strong working relationships with stakeholders in Southeast Europe and the European Union, gaining valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the regional context of the Western Balkans and the EU integration process.
Due to her extensive experience, Ms Siljanoska was appointed Deputy Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community Treaty in Belgrade, Serbia, by the Regional Steering Committee on 6 July 2020.
Based on a proposal from the European Commission and following a positive opinion from the Ministerial Council of the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee decided to renew Ms Siljanoska’s mandate for three years, starting in September 2023.
