Launched in the year 2000 (then "Osservatorio sui Balcani") as a forum of dialogue among civil society organizations, it aims to support transnational relations to promote the European integration of South East Europe, the development of democracy at EU level, and the easing of the East/West divide within Europe. OBC also signed a long-term partnership agreement with the
European Parliament, and it has won grants and projects from the
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the
European Union, private foundations, state and private organisations. In 2016 it changed its name to Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). In 2017 OBCT moved to Trento and became an operational unit of the newly founded International Cooperation Centre (
Centro per la Cooperazione Internazionale), an association between the
Autonomous Province of Trento, the municipalities of Trento and Rovereto, the Peace Bell Foundation and the
University of Trento. OBC is partner of the
Leipzig-based
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, for whom has developed and run the Online Resource Centre on Media Freedom. ==Praise and accolades==