"There is no future for the EU without the future of the Western Balkans. We can not do without each other. "We need to pass on every good practice to each other, in order to speed up this process," said Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, opening the regional panel: Western Balkans: The future of Europe is our common agenda.

The Prime Minister said that given that membership in the European Union is a strategic direction of the Western Balkan countries, it is important to look together at the next steps in the European integration process.

"That is why a new accessible methodology has been created to improve the problems and make it better, and in the case of Montenegro, these are chapters 23 and 24," Krivokapic said. He pointed out that the problem in Montenegro is not in ignorance, but in insufficient knowledge and the promotion of those who do not have full knowledge and competence and that young people should be given the opportunity.

He added that when it comes to joining the EU, Montenegro does not seek protection. "We will enter the EU when we deserve it. That is why we ask everyone in the Western Balkans to invest their efforts in order to achieve that goal. "

"Our goal must be a credible continuation of the EU enlargement process." The future of the European Union is the future of the Western Balkans as well ", said the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Gasper Dovжаan. He said sustainable development, stability and prosperity are important for both the Western Balkans and the European Union.

As he pointed out, if the goal of the Western Balkan countries is to become full members of the European Union and fulfill their tasks on the road to the EU, the European Union must also show credibility and leave the door to membership open.

"The European Union must be aware that the Western Balkans is its backyard and that the European Union is the largest trading partner in the region, the largest investor and donor. Therefore, a logical step forward is the institutional upgrade. "If that does not happen, other actors will take the opportunity to expand their influence and interests in the Western Balkans region." said Dovjan.

The regional panel is a result of the initiative of the Office for European Integration of Montenegro and the structures in charge of coordinating European affairs in the Western Balkans, organized by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in the framework of the Regional European Integration Project. of the Government of Germany, the Center for European Perspective from Ljubljana and in cooperation with the Slovenian EU Presidency, and support for the EU4ME project funded by the EU.

Source: MIA