Oct 9, 2024 – Regional leaders from the Western Balkans met in Tivat on Tuesday under the Brdo-Brioni process, renewing their calls for stronger EU ties and emphasising that the bloc’s future is incomplete without their integration. The summit, hosted by Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatovic, took place amid growing global instability and geopolitical shifts.
Milatovic opened the closed-door discussions by pointing to the importance of seizing the current political momentum within the EU, as expansion talks gain renewed traction. “The world order is unsettled, but there’s now a real window of opportunity for enlargement. We’re determined to use it,” he said. He reaffirmed Montenegro’s dedication to maintaining stability and fostering good relations with its neighbours, hoping that the country’s progress towards EU membership would encourage others in the region.
Croatia’s President Zoran Milanovic praised the Brdo-Brioni process, launched in 2010 by Croatia and Slovenia, for providing a space where nations—many of which have historically struggled to communicate—can engage in open dialogue. “These meetings allow countries to talk to each other, some of which might otherwise find it difficult,” Milanovic observed. He called on Croatia and Slovenia, as EU members, to continue supporting their Western Balkan neighbours in their journey towards joining the union.
Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani expressed her country’s unwavering commitment to regional cooperation, based on the principles of inclusiveness and shared aspirations for EU and NATO membership. “Kosovo remains focused on good neighbourly relations, with our eyes firmly set on Euro-Atlantic integration,” she said.
Slovenia’s President Natasha Pirc Musar highlighted Montenegro as the frontrunner in the region for swift EU accession. She also proposed a more streamlined approach to enlargement, suggesting that decisions on closing membership chapters should be made by qualified majority rather than unanimity, in an effort to speed up the process.
The summit also addressed the ongoing tensions between Serbia and Montenegro. Although Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? skipped the plenary session, he later joined the gathering, using a press conference to deny allegations that Serbia was meddling in Montenegro’s elections. “Serbia has done nothing against Montenegro and never will, but we won’t allow anyone to impose dominance over us,” Vu?i? declared.
The Brdo-Brioni process continues to serve as a key forum for promoting regional cooperation and supporting the Western Balkans on their path towards EU integration, despite ongoing challenges in the region.
