PRESS RELEASE 19 December 2022
Second Meeting of South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Political Directors in Podgorica: The Common Goal is United Europe
Unity between European Union (EU) and Western Balkans (WB), including more intensive cooperation among the SEECP Participants, is of utmost importance for the common European future as underscored at the second SEECP Political Directors Meeting which was held in Podgorica as part of Montenegro’s one-year Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO) of SEECP.
The meeting, which was moderated by Radovan Bogojević, Acting Director General for Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by national coordinators and representatives of 13 SEECP Participants, EU, and the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Majlinda Bregu.
During the discussion, participants praised the ambitious calendar of activities of the Podgorica CiO, under the motto A SEE of Culture, a SEE of Cooperation and extended support to the organisation of all planned events in 2023 focused on human rights, strengthening security cooperation through the rule of law and fight against organised crime and corruption, energy and cyber security, and green agenda and digital society.
In the light of the recent good news for the region – opening of accession negotiations with Skopje and Tirana, awarding candidate status for the EU membership to Sarajevo, decision on visa liberalisation for Pristina, and submission of its EU membership application, it was stressed that these events are important steps in advancing towards the common goal – completion of the united Europe project.
The participants emphasised that the recent EU-WB Summit in Tirana, the first organised in the region, is yet another step in this context, which demonstrated unity and confirmed readiness to intensify further efforts towards the common future in the EU.
In this respect, the importance of ratification and enforcement of the agreements recently signed in Belin and Tirana was further emphasised so that the citizens would see the benefits in mobility and affordable roaming services as soon as the next year.
During the meeting, the participants exchanged views on the election and appointment of the Secretary General of the RCC.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
19 December 2022