PM Marković at PKCG conference: Montenegro has done huge job in integration process, we will join EU before 2025 or in 2025

 PHOTO: PM Duško Marković at the opening of the conference "Balkans and European Union – a five-year cycle of the Berlin Process"

PHOTO: PM Duško Marković at the panel Economic and European Perspective of the Balkans

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Prime Minister Duško Marković assessed today that Montenegro has completed the most difficult part of the process of European integration, that the closing of negotiation chapters represents an easier part of the integration process and that our country will definitely join the European Union before 2025 or in 2025.

"Over the past thirty years, the European perspective of the Western Balkans has never been more certain, and the Balkans have never been in a better position. This does not mean that we are not exposed to risks. Instabilities come as a result of different processes on the global scene. A very rapid increase in protectionism and populist ideas, but also developments such as the tensions between big economies such as China, the United States and the EU. In this context, the Balkans are implementing its European agenda, and Montenegro and Serbia are the frontrunners on this path. The question is, are we successful? We have a serious and great result because it is not a technical process. Opening the chapters is an essential process of changes in the country and society in every sense. Therefore, working on the opening of the chapters, we are working on changes in society that lead us to a better perspective. Montenegro is not rushing with the date of its membership. We think it should have been faster, but that does not depend on us. We consider this process as an opportunity to adopt the European values. The aim of our European perspective is not the membership in the EU, but our European values. Regarding the deadlines, the process of closing the chapters will be easier than the first one. We will be in the European Union before 2025 or maybe in 2025," Prime Minister Marković said at the beginning of the panel "Economic and European Perspective of the Balkans".

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Rasim Ljajić and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Kocho Angjushev also took part in the panel. The panel was hosted by journalist of the Austrian state television ORF, Christian Wehrschütz, an expert in our region.

Some governments in the region are imposing barriers

Answering the moderator's question about the obstacles to the faster and better progress in the Western Balkans, Prime Minister Marković said that the biggest obstacle are precisely the countries of the region, certain governments, i.e. prime ministers, because they act contrary to the undertaken obligations.

"The Berlin Process began as a diplomatic initiative. Today, its content and the spirit are mostly economic issues. ... Through the Berlin Process, an important document has emerged – an Action Plan that should provide implementation of the connection plan. We signed it in Trieste – the prime ministers of six countries. Let me be open among my friends and colleagues: We haven't completely met this commitment. We need to change the way we behave in the Region, when we make a commitment we need to meet it. It should be our standard. None of our partners should remind us. Not all governments have seen the process in the same way. We have the precise tasks of overcoming the economic barriers and administrative constraints. And then, in the midst of these activities, not to talk about the needs of our economies, we behave differently: some countries impose taxes on imports of agricultural products. Montenegro shows full responsibility, and I think that we have fulfilled the obligations from the Action Plan to the details ", the Prime Minister said.

 

PM Marković assessed that all the countries of the region have already gained some benefits from the Berlin Process, while Montenegro, although the smallest economy, has attracted the most money. The Prime Minister emphasised that stability is the most important in the Balkans.

"We need to preserve the existing level of stability so that the economy could progress," PM Marković said, noting that the digital economy offers to our region a huge chance to overcome difficulties more quickly.

Minister Damjanović presented SEEIIST project

Minister of Science Sanja Damjanović presented at the conference the project of the South-East Europe International Institute for Sustainable Technologies (SEEIIST).

PM Marković reminded that the idea was already supported by the largest scientific institution in Europe – CERN, and stressed that it is a project that could contribute to the further scientific advancement of the region.

The conference "Balkans and the European Union – a five-year cycle of the Berlin Process" organised by the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (PKCG) was opened by President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović, Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz and President of the Chamber of Commerce Vlastimir Golubović.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO