The meeting is organised by Montenegro, the country currently presiding over the SEECP, and will focus on the implementation of the priorities of Montenegro’s presidency during the past year, and the current situation in South East Europe, in particular in light of its advance towards Euro-Atlantic integration
The meeting is organised by Montenegro, the country currently presiding over the SEECP, and will focus on the implementation of the priorities of Montenegro’s presidency during the past year, and the current situation in South East Europe, in particular in light of its advance towards Euro-Atlantic integration. The attendants will be acquainted with the planned activities during the upcoming presidency of the Republic of Serbia over the SEECP, and the Annual Report on the work of the Regional Cooperation Council.
Minister Jandroković thanked minister Roćen and the members of the Montenegrin SEECP presidency for organising the conference and for their successful presidency during the previous period. He stressed its contribution to further strengthening the capacity of SEECP, alignment with the current political developments in South East Europe, and the advancement of mutual understanding and cooperation. Recalling the significant productive cooperation that already exists under the SEECP, the minister said that the countries of the region are coming closer and closer to their goal of reaching European standards, both in the political and in the economic sense.
In this regard, the minister also recalled a recent forum of the EU Member States and South East European countries in Luxembourg, which presented a significant opportunity for the continuation of high level political dialogue with the European Union. The forum demonstrated the progress achieved in numerous areas, but also identified areas in which further work is necessary. The most important message is that the European Union remains actively involved with the countries in the region, and therefore the countries in the region must likewise continue to strengthen their relations with the EU and implement intensive reforms, minister Jandroković said.
Minister Jandroković also stressed that Croatia’s example as the best proof that reforms are worthwhile and that the EU carries many benefits had been repeated many times over the past weeks, and expressed his satisfaction with the decision of the European Council to conclude the negotiations with Croatia. He informed the attendees that Croatia will be closing the remaining chapters in the last intergovernmental conference to be held the following day in Brussels, which will represent the technical conclusion of the negotiations and enable the signing of the Accession Treaty during the upcoming Polish presidency over the EU. However, Croatia will continue with the fulfilment of obligations arising from the negotiation process in order to be fully prepared for accession to full membership of the European Union on 1 July 2013, minister Jandroković said.
Croatia’s success is symbolic as it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Croatia’s independence, said the minister, stressing its significance for the confirmation of the vitality of the EU enlargement policy as one of the most successful policies, as well as an important signal of encouragement and a clear path forwards for the entire region. In this regard, he said that Croatia’s example demonstrates that internal reforms and external cooperation are fundamental prerequisites for every successful integration policy.
Furthermore, minister Jandroković said that regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations will continue to hold a prominent position in Croatian foreign policy. He expressed his willingness to share the experiences gained during the negotiation and accession process.
Croatia will also remain actively involved in the activities of the SEECP, which is without doubt the most successful framework for constructive political dialogue in the region, said the minister, expressing his full support to participation in a wide range of project oriented activities that are implemented within the Regional Cooperation Council. He said that the synergy between the SEECP and the Regional Cooperation Council, which particularly came into focus during the Montenegrin presidency, gave new momentum to these activities. He also expressed his belief that the dialogue and cooperation promoted between the two forums will continue to be a vital part of the overall mutual relations.
The minister also expressed his belief that the upcoming presidency of the Republic of Serbia over the SEECP will maintain the positive momentum, and expressed his firm support to their upcoming work.
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