In his speech on the topic “Western Balkans - between Numerous Internal Problems and European Integration” within the Petrovac discourses, President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović said that in the relations with its closest neighbours, Montenegro was recognised as a state which fostered and affirmed good neighbourly relations.
- With its current negotiation status and devotion to reforms, Montenegro is the best promoter of the European values in the region. Keeping the regatta principle is essential, by which the progress of every state is measured on individual merits and capability to fulfil criteria for the EU membership. Despite the fact that Montenegro clearly emphasises its priority - and that is achieving European standards through strengthening of reform processes, and not the date of admission to the EU - our view is that regatta principle maintains motivation of the candidate countries in fulfilling criteria for membership, and it same time it contributes to weakening of forces that promote Euroscepticism or even anti-European values.
Mr Brajović has expressed his confidence that despite all the national turbulences and other temptations, the EU will keep the enlargement policy highly on its agenda, which is important for the Union credibility as well as for long term stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans region, which wants to be re-located from the European periphery.
Referring to recent speeches of EC President Jean-Claude Juncker and President of France Emanuel Macron, Mr Brajović said:
- Recent speeches by the high officials of the Union and leaders of the member state show that there is not only possibility but also the need for enlarging the EU by the Western Balkans countries. It is up to us to use that opportunity, primarily through implementation of reforms and achievement of European standards. By making further positive progress in reforms, Montenegro is determined to retain the status of a leader among future members of the European community of nations - the President of the Parliament of Montenegro concluded.
The following took part in the Petrovac discourses: Ms Jelica Minić, President of the Serbian Forum for International Relation of the European Movement, Mr Zlatko Vujović, Director of CEMI Podgorica, Mr Siniša Tatalović, full professor at the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Zagreb, Mr Momčilo Radulović, President of the European Movement Montenegro from Podgorica, Mr Lutz Kober from Hanns Seidel Foundation, while Mr Dragan Đukanović, professor of the University of Donja Gorica, Podgorica, was the discussion moderator.
The participants discussed the real prospects of full membership of the Western Balkan countries in the European Union, but also about the many challenges they faced on this path. It was also discussed, among other things, on whether the Western Balkan region, if deprived of the European Union membership, would be more susceptible to the development of ethnonationalism and radicalism.
The Petrovac disourses are held in the organisation of the Centre for Foreign Policy and Hanns Seidel Foundation in Montenegro and Serbia.
Opening speech of President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović
VIDEO
Speech of President Brajović
The Petrovac discourses - VIDEO FOOTAGE
