SARAJEVO – Montenegrin Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović paid a two-day visit to Sarajevo, where he participated in the third Conference on donor coordination of the SEE2020 strategy organized by the Regional Cooperation Council and the Panel The challenges of enlargement and regional cooperationwhich was organized at the Faculty of Political Sciences, indicates the ministry in a press release.
At the SEE2020 Donor Coordination Conference, the importance of compliance of different sources of financing for development projects in the Western Balkans and South-Eastern Europe was highlighted. Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council Goran Svilanović stressed that coordinated action is essential to further promote regional cooperation. He particularly highlighted the importance of economic development for intensifying the European integration process as a key strategic commitment of countries in the region.
Opening the titled panel Economic development: needs and priorities of the regionMinister Pejović highlighted the need to direct all available donor funds in the region towards investments, in order to more effectively stimulate economic growth and development. He stressed that comprehensive regional cooperation in this area should be part of the European integration process, which is impossible without strong economic cooperation at all levels. “Only open and constructive economic cooperation, with the support of the EU as the largest donor in the region, as well as other donors, can contribute to the creation of new jobs, improving living standards and real integration of the region into the EU. “, said the minister.
Important topics for the future economic development of the region were discussed within the panel, in particular the initiative of the European Investment Bank focused on strengthening the adaptability of the economies of the countries of the region, supporting of the EU under the Berlin Process and the Connectivity Agenda. , improving education, employment and cooperation in the digital society.
Speaking on the panel The challenges of enlargement and regional cooperationorganized at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Sarajevo, Minister Pejović highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences of the accession process, adding that the cooperation agreement between the Government of Montenegro and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia -Herzegovina in the field The EU accession process represents an excellent platform for discussing topics of common interest, such as the rule of law, environmental protection, the use of European funds and ‘others.
In the context of cross-border cooperation and regional projects carried out within the framework of the Berlin process, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina have so far implemented valuable projects that contributed to improving the work of institutions and organizations as well as the quality of life of the population, as he remembers. In this regard, he particularly highlighted the importance of using 8.4 million euros of EU grants, available under the program Bosnia-Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020.