Bečići: Regional workshop on cooperation in the process of EU integration

A regional workshop on cooperation in the process of South East Europe EU integration is taking place in Bečići.

The workshop is hosted by German government’s GIZ organisation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (MFAEI), and attended by representatives of state administrations and civil society organisations from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

The event was launched by Ministry’s Director General for European Affairs Snežana Radović and manager of the GIZ’s Open Regional Funds South-East Europe Alexandra Hilbig. 

Snežana Radović presented Montenegro’s European integration achievements and in particular the establishment of a very good negotiation structure, the successful completion of the screening process, as well as commitment shown in provisionally closing two and opening seven negotiation chapters. She underlined that Montenegro, as a country farthest away in the accession process, is well aware of its regional responsibility, and she voiced Montenegro’s readiness to share with regional friends its experience and know-how related to the new approach to accession negotiations and Chapters 23 and 24. She added that Montenegro is glad to see its neighbours prospering in a way that enhances the Western Balkans’ European perspective. She noted in particular the importance of strengthening regional partnership and spirit of cooperation in EU integration and commended the more dynamic approach to implementing political and economic reforms, and in that context thanked GIZ for organising the event. 

Alexandra Hilbig told the participants that this project is a way for Germany to support the South East European countries in their progress towards EU membership. She underlined that establishing closer ties between region’s countries’ institutions dealing with EU accession will contribute to the improvement of administrative capacity for meeting EU membership criteria. 

The meeting participants underlined that EU membership is a shared objective of all countries in the region and added that good cooperation in that regard has already been established both bilaterally and through regional initiatives and projects.

The event was a good opportunity to exchange opinions and good practices in coordinating the accession process and the alignment of legislation with the EU acquis. Montenegro’s delegation, which comprised representatives of the MFAEI, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, and several NGOs, presented their experiences regarding the new approach to accession negotiations, with a special emphasis on rule of law chapters. They also presented cooperation with the Parliament and the civil society and underlined the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders for the success of the negotiation process.