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Montenegro, meeting of regional and EU leaders on Balkan Growth

2024-05-16 18:56:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The two-day meeting of Regional Leaders of the Western Balkans Growth Plan is being held in the coastal town of Kotor, Montenegro, together with EU partners and senior government officials from across the region.

The Assistant Secretary of the United States for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, whose engagement was focused on regional economic integration, also participates in this two-day meeting.

The Council of the EU approved a plan of six billion euros to support the countries of the Western Balkans in order to accelerate reforms and economic growth, of which two billion in grants and four in favorable loans guaranteed by the EU.

Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs James C. O'Brien is attending the Western Balkans Growth Plan Regional Leaders meeting in the coastal town of Kotor in Montenegro, along with EU partners and senior officials. government officials from across the region.

His engagements at this meeting focused on regional economic integration and the growth opportunity offered by the Western Balkans Growth Plan with the slogan "One region, shared vision", where they will reinforce the strong support of the United States for the path of Western Balkans towards EU membership.

Mr. O'Brien said that “the US supports the development plan that concerns 18 million people for a better future for their citizens and countries. This year, countries that meet these reforms will join the single European market with lower prices, perhaps 7%.”

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajiq, greeting the participants, said that in the context of challenges in the economic aspect, Montenegro is committed to infrastructural development in accordance with the plan until 2030.

Spajic said that "we believe that investing in young people is an investment in a secure future, so we believe that young people are the key to the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans".

"By opening new horizons, I am sure that we will get closer to the European Union market. Investing in human resources and preserving them will help to achieve the objective goals described in the Growth Plan", Spajiq said.

There are no more excuses for the Western Balkans not to be ready for EU membership, said Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi.

"It is not only a plan for the integration of the region in the EU, but that it is developing by itself. You should take advantage of the opportunity that EU membership gives you and not only membership, but also the period before membership. I think that this aid framework for the Western Balkans offers pragmatic possibilities. The region has lost many opportunities, there is no better time than now to start working seriously on the road to the European standard", said Varhelyi.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, during his speech, reiterated that Serbia should recognize Kosovo and hand over the terrorist Milan Radojciq, who, according to him, was involved in the attack in Banjska on September 24.

"Good neighborly relations in our region are essential. We ask Serbia to hand over Milan Radojciqi to Kosovo and also his paramilitary group that killed our sergeant Afrim Bunjak on September 24," said Kurti.

He also spoke about the war in Ukraine, which according to him has brought destruction to Ukraine and brought crises to Europe.

High officials from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina also participate in the two-day regional meeting in Kotor./ Voa