Introductory remarks of the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Mr. Igor Lukšić, PhD., at the Second annual Summit of the Central Banks Governors and Finance Ministries in the South Europe region

"I’m greatly pleased and honored to greet you and to welcome you to Montenegro, hosting the Second Summit of the Central Banks Governors and Finance Ministers of Southeast Europe. Also, at the outset I would like to thank the organizers for the idea to gather in one place the holders of fiscal and monetary policy in South Eastern Europe. I believe that our this day will be useful in defining the future policy, being at the same a sort of overview of the transition process in the region and summary of pre – crisis, anti - crisis and post – crisis measures. One of the concepts that marks the era of post-cold war period in the South East Europe region is a democratic transition, and a successful transition is possible only with certain variables, among which is unavoidable economic stability. It is a prerequisite of a successful democracy, therefore the Government of Montenegro is fully focused and committed to pursuing it. The set of changes in legal, political and economic system aimed at the education of democratic social order and complementary market economy, is the core of the transition process, the objective of the transition process is the achievement of progress in the area of political and economic freedom, increase in economic system efficiency and subsequently the growth in living standard. The indicators are showing that the majority of countries in the pre – crisis period generated higher GDP values than ones in 1989. The question on whether all countries have completed the transition process remains an open one, which may be reopened during the discussion, bearing in mind global circumstances that disrupted economic agendas of many countries worldwide. When it comes to Montenegro, the process of political and economic transition has come to an end. Institutional – legal reform of the economic system and the compliance with the EU standards was completed, aimed at achieving long – term macroeconomic stability, and we are facing the phase implying institutional adjustments. However, further transition of values is important, not only for us, but for the other countries in the region. This is the process that is the long lasting one. Economically speaking, this implies the promotion of the entrepreneurship values being the cornerstone of sustainable market economies. In the light of the above, Montenegro and other countries have designed the Agenda that could be titled “governance modernization“, implying the establishment of modern principles in managing the state – owned enterprises, development of an adequate competition policies pursuant to the EU standards, infrastructural improvement at all levels, capacity strengthening in all segments, both of public administration, and the private sector”.