DPM Simović takes part in ministerial conference on World Bee Day: Global response to bee protection

The high government representatives of 20 countries, including Montenegro, agreed today at the gathering held in Brdo near Kranj in Slovenia that an urgent, comprehensive and effective joint reaction is needed in order to protect the bees, bearing in mind their importance for sustainable agriculture, food safety and nutrition, as well as environmental protection.

Readiness for joint action and closer cooperation, at all levels, between countries and relevant international organizations, is formalized by a joint Declaration adopted today at a ministerial conference held on the occasion of the first celebration of the World Bee Day – 20 May. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović represented Montenegro.

Speaking at the gathering, DPM Simović congratulated the Government of Slovenia on the initiative, stressing that from the beginning Montenegro has given its support for its implementation and that he looks forward to joint success.

We need to preserve the bee community in order to reduce hunger in the world, reduce poverty, preserve rural life and vulnerable rural communities, to have more jobs and preserve the existing ones, as 2 billion people live on the Earth and create an existence in agriculture sector, DPM Simović said.

He said that Montenegro is very committed to improving beekeeping, that the number of bee communities has a growth trend and the affinity and ambition that young people in Montenegro have in the development of beekeeping is particularly encouraging. "The state, by creating numerous incentive measures, helps the beekeeping sector. We pay special attention to education, bearing in mind all these challenges, knowledge is also a crucial requirement for further development. We protect the bee communities from global challenges, such as diseases. We are trying to regulate the market for honey and other bee products because there are many problems on the market - honey that does not meet quality and food safety needs," Simović said, stressing that it is a common challenge and a common obligation to regulate the honey market on a global scale.

In that direction, according to Simović, two compatible goals should be set up - to speed up trade by eliminating barriers at border crossings, but at the same time helping one another to preserve our markets from significant quantities of honey that does not meet quality standards.

On the margins of the ministerial conference, DPM Simović met with European Commissioner for the Environment, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Karmenu Vella. Simović stressed Montenegro's need to develop the fisheries sector and informed him about the activities and efforts that Montenegro is making in that direction, especially in the area of harmonization with the policies and standards of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

Commissioner Vella pointed out that he and his services will continue to be available to Montenegro for any assistance, with the aim that our administration successfully harmonizes the rules and procedures with the European one.

DPM Simović also met with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia Dejan Zidan. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the joint activities of the two countries, defined by the memorandum and the action plan on cooperation.

Mr. Zidan stressed that Slovenia will continue to help Montenegro on its way to the EU, through expert and other forms of support.