At a time when Montenegro is entering the final stage of its European Union accession negotiations, the Ministry of European Affairs and the Association of Managers of Montenegro (AMM) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, establishing an institutional framework for stronger involvement of the organised business community in the European integration process.
The Memorandum represents an important step towards closer cooperation between institutions and the business community in the areas of leadership development, strengthening managerial competencies, promoting European management standards and making use of the opportunities offered by European Union membership. The Memorandum was signed by Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević and President of the Association of Managers of Montenegro Budimir Raičković.
“Successful completion of the negotiations with the European Union requires an active partnership between institutions and all relevant stakeholders in society, while the business community has an important role to play in this process. The European Commission has planned Montenegro’s inclusion in the next seven-year budgetary perspective and allocated €3.2 billion, which means significantly more financial resources for our economy as well,” Gorčević said.
During the meeting, the priorities of future cooperation were discussed, and it was agreed that the activities of the Ministry of European Affairs and the Association of Managers would focus on organising joint conferences, expert gatherings and educational programmes dedicated to European policies and the EU acquis, promoting European standards of management and leadership, as well as exchanging experiences with European partners.
“For AMM, this Memorandum marks the beginning of a new level of institutional partnership with the Ministry of European Affairs. European integration is not only about aligning legislation – it also involves people who will turn European standards into better management, more responsible decision-making and sustainable development. Our mission is to make a concrete contribution to the final stage of the negotiations and Montenegro’s future membership in the European Union through leadership and managerial competency development, as well as the experience we have gained over the years within the European management network,” Raičković said.
Particular emphasis will be placed on informing the business community about the opportunities offered by European funds and programmes, identifying joint project initiatives, strengthening dialogue between institutions and the business community, and developing the competencies needed for the successful implementation of European standards following accession to the European Union.
The Association of Managers of Montenegro brings together leaders and managers of leading companies and institutions in Montenegro and has been a full member of the European Confederation of Managers (CEC European Managers), based in Brussels, for thirteen years, contributing to the exchange of European experience and the development of modern leadership.