07 May 2019 - Strong economic growth in all sectors is an indicator of the correctness of the direction of development we have opted for and the vision we have for Montenegro, said Prime Minister Duško Marković at the opening of the 4th Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region (EUSAIR).
He stressed that the vision also includes Montenegro as the energy hub of the region, with an undersea power cable to Italy or renewable energy sources, as well as a balanced regional development that will be strategically strengthened by the construction of the first motorway in the country.
"Montenegro, by its development, confirms European values in the best way, as a future member of the European Union and a responsible neighbor and actor in the region and beyond," Prime Minister Marković added.
He noted that Montenegro is ending its one-year chairmanship of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region. At the same time, the University of Montenegro is ending its one-year chairmanship over the UniAdrion Association, which brings together 38 universities and research centres in the region.
The Adriatic-Ionian region, said Prime Minister Marković, is a home for over 70 million people sharing the same challenges, but also the same, exceptional potential. "Although we have different economic indicators, we all have to bear in mind the same goal that the European Union's strategy for this the region promotes - a uniformly developed, competitive area and a region characterised by economic and social growth".
The Prime Minister pointed out that accelerated economic development and job creation, as well as the creation of business opportunities through concrete activities in the sector of blue growth, transport and energy networks, sustainable tourism and environmental development, must remain the backbone of our work. Montenegro, in the Prime Minister's words, follows these goals.
"Montenegro is the first non-EU member state to chair the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian region. We have accepted the Presidency as a challenge, but also as an additional responsibility, aware that the Strategy represents a mechanism for strengthening the process of European integration, "said Prime Minister Marković.
He emphasised that Montenegro's participation in the programmes of cross-border and transnational cooperation is a key factor that enables us to use the potentials of our countries in the best possible way, and finally, as a future member, to be fully prepared for the use of structural and investment funds.
"Economic progress inevitably leads to the development of cities and universities, and in addition to the areas above, we have continuously invested in scientific cooperation, research projects and continuous building of modern teaching staff," Prime Minister Marković stated.
He said that he is particularly pleased that, within the Science, Innovation and Growth Panel, the Forum's participants will have the opportunity to hear more about the Montenegrin initiative to establish the International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in South East Europe, which he believes can strongly contribute to regional prosperity as our common goal, ensuring the best way to slow down brain drain.
The next few days in Budva, the EU Forum of the European Union for the Adriatic-Ionian Region will be organised together with the conference of the forums of the Adriatic-Ionian Chambers of Commerce, Cities and Universities, which is an exceptional potential for linking hundreds of representatives of state institutions, local authorities, business people, civil sector and all stakeholders recognising the importance of promoting and improving the close cooperation of the countries of the Adriatic-Ionian region.
