Ibrahimovic: The region's European perspective is not just a political process, it is about the future

The European perspective of the Western Balkans must not be understood solely as a political process, because it is primarily about the security and future of our citizens, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimovic said today, opening the Ministerial Meeting within the Berlin Process in Przno.

“The security environment around us is difficult. European countries are facing threats, cyberattacks and pressure on critical infrastructure. I am convinced that the European perspective of the Western Balkans must not be understood solely as a political process, but as a matter of security and the future of our citizens,” Ibrahimovic stressed.

He said that the accession process must be a process of transformation that will strengthen resilience in all areas and provide citizens with a safer environment.

At the same time, he said that countries in the region must implement reforms, strengthen institutions, reduce political disputes and engage in dialogue, as well as demonstrate through their actions their readiness for transformation.

According to him, the European Union should ensure that the Western Balkans become more integrated in economic, political and security terms.

“The region should not be viewed only as an area of future enlargement, but as part of Europe's security environment. We are already contributing to security through our alignment with foreign and security policy, our participation in European and Euro-Atlantic structures, and our efforts to strengthen resilience against threats,” Ibrahimovic said.

He stressed that this is precisely what the Berlin Process is working on by bringing together the Western Balkans and the EU and enabling cooperation in many areas.

“Today, I would like us to have a concrete discussion about how we can further strengthen the European perspective as a source of peace, stability and security. How can we accelerate economic and social convergence, and how can we ensure that citizens feel the benefits of integration? In addition, how can we ensure that the next generation sees its future in a European Western Balkans and does not have to choose between home and a European future? Our goal should be to build a region where people can live, study and work, and which is connected to the European space,” Ibrahimovic stressed.

He said that today's meeting should reaffirm European principles and a pro-European Western Balkans.

The foreign ministers attending the meeting in Przno are Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Kosovo Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca, Albanian Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha, Bosnian Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic, as well as North Macedonian Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Trade Minister Zoran Dimitrievski.

Among those present are Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Emanuele Giaufret, Deputy Managing Director for Western Europe at the European External Action Service, and France's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Rene Troccaz.

Participants in the meeting will discuss the topic “The Western Balkans in a changing Europe: Security, convergence and a future for the next generations”.

The Berlin Process is a diplomatic initiative launched in 2014 by then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel with the aim of bringing the countries of the region closer to the European Union.