The newly formed government has a clear priority – for economic integration to become a reality, for the quality of life to improve, and for membership in the European Union to be certain, stated Prime Minister Milojko Spajic.
He said at the Western Balkans Growth Plan and Faster EU Integration conference held in Skopje that this was a very important meeting where the countries of the region defined the further direction of action in the process of European integration.
Spajic assessed that integration into the internal market is an important opportunity that the Western Balkan countries must seize.
“For Montenegro, membership is not a formal category but a necessity for deep economic integration that will provide our citizens with a standard of living comparable to that of developed European countries. In this sense, as a newly formed government, our priority is clear – to make economic integration a reality, improve the quality of life, and make EU membership certain,” Spajic said.
At the conference hosted by North Macedonian Prime Minister Dmitar Kovacevski, Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević and Finance Minister Novica Vuković also participated.
Leaders of the region and representatives of the European Union and the United States discussed the Western Balkans Growth Plan, which includes six billion euros in grants and loans to accelerate socio-economic approximation to the European Union. Specifically, two billion in grants and four billion in favorable loans guaranteed by the EU.
“In Montenegro, we believe that our strength comes from our unity. We are confident that the same principle can be applied to the region. By creating a functional and connected regional market, we open up a myriad of opportunities for trade, investment, and economic development,” Spajic said.
He said that the Growth Plan is an instrument that will help achieve these goals, and he emphasized that Montenegro is fully committed to the implementation of the Plan related to sustainable development, innovation, and inclusive economic policies.
This, he said, involves strengthening the legal framework, investing in infrastructure, and promoting an entrepreneurial culture.
During his presentation, Spajic reminded that the government prepared the Reform Agenda at the end of last year, which it will further work on with the European Commission.
“With very short deadlines but with full dedication of our administration, I believe that we have created solid foundations for reform measures based on which we will further improve policies and define the final version of the document,” Spajic said.
He said that priority areas have been identified, such as the business environment and the development of the private sector, digital and green energy transitions, human resources development, and strengthening the rule of law.
“Relying on the pillars of the Growth Plan: a common market, integration into the single European market, sustainable development, and innovation, I am confident that through cooperation, determination, and commitment to sustainable development, we can build a brighter future for our region,” Spajic concluded.
