Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic had talks with representatives of Italian regions, trade union UIL and businessmen

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with Secretary General of the Italian Trade Union UIL, Mr. Luigi Angeletti, Chairman of the UIL Project South Institute, Mr. Bruno Bruni, local government representatives of Italian regions Puglia, Marche and Lazio as well as with representatives of the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.

Prime Minister Djukanovic gave his full support to the joint initiative of the Italian Trade Union UIL, South Project Institute and the Trade Union Alliance of Montenegro to organize todays conference in Montenegro aimed at strengthening the comprehensive cooperation and partnership between Montenegro and Italy. It was mutually agreed that that was the way to restore good prospects for mutual cooperation both in the Adriatic basin and within the new framework of European integration. By the same token, it was found that the integration of the Western Balkan countries into the EU remained Italian strategic interest.

The available support mechanisms and programs of the Italian Government and the EU aimed at strengthening regional and cross-border cooperation were considered at the meeting with a view to increasing the presence of Italian companies and investments in Montenegro.

Prime Minister Djukanovic expressed his gratitude for Italian readiness to strengthen cooperation, emphasizing the importance the Government of Montenegro attached to the partnership and all-embracing bonds with Italy, which he said was high on Montenegros foreign policy and foreign trade priority list.

Finally, it was mutually agreed that conditions were met for a series of examples of Montenegrin-Italian partnership to take place at all levels and in all fields.