Athens: Regional cooperation - incentive for sustainable economic and social progress

Athens, Greece (7 February 2014) -- State Secretary for European Integration and Montenegro’s Chief EU Negotiator Ambassador Aleksandar Andrija Pejović participated in the ministerial meeting of the Adriatic- Ionian Initiative in Athens on Thursday.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Negotiator said that Montenegro, as an Mediterranean country, strongly supports the objectives of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic- Ionian Initiative and that it has already made a significant contribution to the realisation of this idea. He stressed the importance of further strengthening cooperation and exchanging experience and know-all for more rapid progress of each of the individual states and the region as a whole.

In this context, Ambassador Pejović said that the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative provides a good framework for regional cooperation, which appreciably enhances the European perspective of the countries of the region.

During his stay in Athens, Ambassador Pejović also attended the conference on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian region.

The meeting was opened by Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras, and was attended by representatives of the European Commission responsible for regional policy, maritime policy and fisheries, as well as the foreign ministers of the eight states that make up the Adriatic- Ionian region.

The meeting presented the European Commission’s new initiative towards creating a macro-regional strategy that aims to valorise potential of the region and make improvements in four priority areas: managing innovative development of navigation and sea, linking the region, preserving , protecting and improving the environment, and increasing the attractiveness of the region.

The Conference participants stressed the importance of boosting ties and stronger cooperation between the countries of the region towards achieving common goals and highlighted that strategy could contribute to the countries of the Western Balkans on their path towards the EU membership.

When it comes to Montenegro, Ambassador Pejović stressed the importance of the first pillar of the strategy - promotion of innovative maritime growth in which Montenegro and Greece have developed a strategic partnership. This pillar also promotes sustainable economic growth and employment, as well as creation of business opportunities in the sectors such as aquaculture, fisheries, marine biotechnology, marine and maritime services. The intensification of regional cooperation in this and other fields contributes to the dynamics of reforms and strengthens the European perspective of the region.