Drljević: Region must not be on margins of Europe

"The Western Balkans should not be allowed to be on the sidelines of Europe, so, implementing fundamental reforms and fostering good neighbourly relations are a prerequisite without which the necessary development and improvement of the standard of citizens cannot be achieved”, Chief Negotiator Aleksandar Drljević highlighted.

Speaking at the opening of Petrovac Discourses on topic: "European elections in the context of the development of the European Union and the Western Balkans", Drljević recalled that the last European elections brought victories for centrist parties. Moreover, Chief Negotiator Drljević reminded that left and right-wing groups had been stronger than ever and that citizens had shown bigger interest on the EU.



Considering the challenges Europe is currently faced with, Mr Drljević said that the EU needed Balkans more than ever.

Bearing in mind the challenges currently facing Europe, the Chief Negotiator said that the Balkans was never more necessary to the European Union than it is today, and given the current circumstances in the Balkans, it must be concluded that our region has no alternative to joining EU.

"Therefore, the EU's presence in the Western Balkans is crucial for our future. Integration of the countries of the region is the only good strategy that strengthens the stability of the European continent, and the continuation of enlargement is not only a matter of importance for the Western Balkans, but also for European stability and competitiveness", Drljević said.

The Chief Negotiator stressed Montenegro's determined commitment to EU membership, regardless of what is happening on the European continent, which is confirmed by its commitment to reform and recognised success in the negotiation process. Drljević said that the region should not be allowed to be on the sidelines of Europe and recognised as a source of problems and conflicts on European soil.

"We need to prove that European addresses can count on our contribution to addressing the challenges of modern times, such as migrant pressures, security threats in the form of terrorism, cyber attacks, and more. We must not miss the historic chance of integrating the Western Balkans into the structure of the developed countries of Europe by convincing European partners that we can only make the European continent stable and secure together," Drljević concluded.

GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
SECTOR FOR INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EU AND THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS