25 October 2018 - The European Union has a historic opportunity to establish a unique model of lasting peace and prosperity on European soil through faster integration of the countries of Southeast Europe respecting and promoting European civilisation values, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Zoran Pažin said in a presentation at the Crans Montana Forum, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking at a special event dedicated to regional stability in Europe, organised within the Crans Montana Forum and attended by dozens of current and former heads of state and government, as well as a large number of global company leaders, the Deputy Prime Minister voiced belief that the new enlargement to the European southeast in the near future will give strong international credibility to the values and policies of the European Union and strengthen its global competitiveness.
"Montenegro is an example of European policy's success in Southeastern Europe. Since we restored the state independence 12 years ago and started our European and Euro-Atlantic development path, the value of our economy has doubled and today we are experiencing the economic growth rates that are among the highest in Europe. In parallel, we actively contribute to international peace and security through NATO membership and we are a reliable support and promoter of European values and rules in Southeastern Europe," Pažin stressed.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that today's complex socio-political and security picture of Europe and the world demands great wisdom and determination from European leaders and citizens in building the global competitiveness of the European Union, not only as an economic power but also as a progressive civilisational idea.
He pointed out that the European Union, as a unique supranational project of peace and prosperity, needs to promote its values and achievements on the global stage actively and aggressively and must not allow the retrograde and dangerous ideologies of nationalism, isolationism and extremism to be imposed as a legitimate alternative model to the European and global development.
