Krivokapić, Bregu: Regional cooperation is an incentive to speed up the European integration process

Montenegro attaches great importance to regional cooperation as one of the priorities of our foreign policy, a significant driver of overall socio-economic progress, and an important incentive to accelerate the process of European integration, said Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić at today's meeting with Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu.

Welcoming Secretary General Bregu, PM Krivokapić reiterated Montenegro's commitment to cooperating with the RCC and supporting all activities aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and dialogue.

The Regional Cooperation Council is very important for the Western Balkans, and represents the best way to show our regional cooperation, said Prime Minister Krivokapić.

Montenegro's commitment to strengthening good neighbourly relations is reflected in its active and constructive participation in over 35 regional organisations, including the RCC. In that context, the Prime Minister praised the work of the RCC and the personal contribution of Secretary General Bregu in the previous three-year term and pointed out that Montenegro sees regional organisations as extremely important mechanisms for strengthening trust, which is a precondition for strengthening relations and cooperation between participating countries.

It is necessary to stop living in the past. The precondition for our region's development lies in knowledge, skills and competence. Therefore, we decided on the idea: Europe now and Europe here, said the Prime Minister.

Secretary General Bregu agreed with the Prime Minister's statement that it is necessary to build Europe now and here, and not just wait for Europe to open the door for us.

People from the Western Balkans are experts and professionals, with excellent competencies, Bregu pointed out.

The Secretary General emphasised that she appreciates Montenegro's commitment to regional cooperation, and that the RCC counts on Montenegro's support when it comes to the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans and the Western Balkans Youth Lab Project.

Prime Minister Krivokapić and Secretary General Bregu agreed that "the neighbour's door is the first door we should knock on", and added that economic and social development agendas are key to the development of our region and its European path, and must be accompanied by adequate responses in the field of environmental protection and climate change.