Prime Minister Milojko Spajic underscored the significance of the Growth Plan during the opening of the Western Balkans and European Union Leaders Summit in Kotor. This pivotal Summit centers on the Growth Plan, which earmarks €6 billion in grants and favorable loans for the Western Balkan countries. According to the Prime Minister, this allocation serves as a clear indication of the European Union’s commitment to fostering economic and democratic transformation across the entire region.
“The Government of Montenegro remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing economic prosperity and the overall quality of life for its citizens. With the primary goal of prioritizing the well-being of our people, we hold high expectations for the Growth Plan, which includes clearly outlined reform measures spanning various sectors from business facilitation, digitalization, and energy transition to upholding the rule of law,” emphasized Spajic.
In his address to Summit participants, Spajic highlighted the EU’s ongoing support for infrastructure development, stressing its imperative continuity and escalation within the framework of the Growth Plan. Notably, the Government of Montenegro has outlined 44 infrastructure projects in the education sector, demonstrating its unwavering dedication to this critical area and its youth—the country’s most valuable asset.
While expressing optimism about the Growth Plan, the Prime Minister noted that certain aspects of this initiative require further elucidation to ensure its full efficacy.
In addition to the outlined priorities such as SEPA accession, tax and customs policy enhancement, digital transformation, and healthcare improvement, Spajic emphasized the pivotal role of access to the Single European Market in driving regional progress toward European standards.
Emphasizing the centrality of citizens in all developmental endeavors, the Prime Minister stressed, “Investing in human capital stands as the cornerstone and the most enduring aspect of all reform processes undertaken by the Government of Montenegro.”
“I call upon all stakeholders to seize this historic opportunity presented by the Growth Plan, viewing it as an integral part of a broader vision for a brighter future for our region and the European Union at large,” concluded Spajic.
Ahead of the Summit, Spajic held discussions with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, to explore current opportunities and avenues for further collaboration, particularly concerning the implementation of the reform agenda.
Spajic and Varhelyi concurred on Montenegro’s commendable progress in fulfilling the priorities outlined in the rule of law negotiation chapters. They also hailed the effective response of the Montenegrin administration to the ambitious plan set forth in the past six months, expressing optimism that meeting all remaining obligations would lead to the attainment of the IBAR and further progress in the integration process.
The Prime Minister expressed contentment with the European Commission‘s approach toward Montenegro, describing the current phase as one of the most successful in recent years regarding enlargement policy.
Varhelyi underscored the significance of hosting the Western Balkans and European Union Leaders Summit in Montenegro, citing it as an opportunity for the country to reaffirm its role as a cohesive force in the region, pivotal for stability preservation and continued development—a sentiment strongly backed by the European Commission.
