Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, participated in an informal meeting of representatives from MED9 member states and EU candidate countries, held in Strunjan, Slovenia.
“Closer cooperation with MED9 promotes stability, trust, and shared prosperity, which is a core objective of the EU enlargement process. A key pillar of our shared vision must be creating economic opportunities for young people and fostering a sustainable, green, and digital economy. This is the best investment in the long-term stability and resilience of the entire region,” Minister Gorčević concluded.
She emphasized that the strategic goal of the Western Balkan countries is EU accession and highlighted Montenegro’s readiness to engage more actively in Mediterranean cooperation and partnerships focused on economic development, energy connectivity, sustainable tourism, and marine biotechnology.
“We are open to collaboration in areas such as marine conservation, pollution control, and developing climate adaptation strategies for coastal communities, which is of particular importance for our European path,” Minister Gorčević stated.
She pointed out that joint work in these areas contributes to better alignment with EU strategic policies and enables tangible progress in the accession process.
During the meeting, participants exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between MED9 countries and Western Balkan states, both in the context of EU accession and in addressing shared global challenges.
Participants agreed that strong and coordinated political support from MED9 countries is crucial for building consensus among EU member states, ensuring a credible and accelerated timeline for accession. It was emphasized that the EU enlargement process cannot be complete without the integration of Western Balkan countries.