The Macro-Regional Strategies and Maritime Basins Days were held on June 12 and 13 in Brussels under the slogan “Strategies for Cooperation” and a delegation from Montenegro’s Ministry of European Affairs participated.
This event, organized by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), brought together representatives from numerous institutions and civil society from EU countries as well as EU candidate countries.
The event aimed to promote cooperation and the exchange of experiences among key stakeholders of the four EU macro-regional strategies (Alpine, Danube, Adriatic-Ionian, Baltic) and the three maritime basin strategies (Atlantic, Western Mediterranean, and Black Sea).
Interactive workshops addressed current issues and successful practices on a variety of topics, such as climate change, innovation, regional potential, EU enlargement, and civil society activism. Participants included Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms; Themis Christophidou, Director-General of DG REGIO; and Charlina Vitcheva, Director-General of DG MARE.
In her opening remarks, Christophidou emphasized that to reach our goals quickly, we should go alone, but to go far, we should unite and act together. Vitcheva highlighted that this is the first time an event includes all seven strategies at the EU level, sending a clear message about the importance of macro-regions and cooperation in all areas, both in member states and non-EU countries.
Commissioner Ferreira, speaking at the closing panel, underscored that the European challenges we all face require stronger cooperation between macro-regions and the necessity of applying a sectoral approach when addressing current and future challenges. She noted that macro-regional strategies play an important role in the enlargement process, and this issue was a focus during the presidencies of Slovenia and Austria of the Danube Strategy.
Representatives from the Ministry of European Affairs attended the event, led by Tatjana Bošković, Head of the Directorate for Horizontal Issues and Macro-Regional Cooperation.
On the second day, a meeting of national coordinators of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region was held. The meeting discussed ongoing and future activities under Austria’s presidency of the strategy.
The meeting also analyzed documents aimed at contributing to the more efficient implementation of the Danube Strategy, focusing on enlargement policy, cohesion policy, and the establishment of a Network of Danube Organizations for Youth.
Bošković stated that Montenegro is at a crossroads on its path to EU membership, anticipating a positive report on the fulfillment of provisional benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24. She noted that Montenegro’s participation in macro-regional strategies facilitates the accession process and prepares the country for utilizing available European funds.