Ivanović at Economic Forum in Karpacz: Montenegro builds its future through knowledge, innovation and European values

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović participated in the 35th Economic Forum in Karpacz, one of the most significant political and economic gatherings in Central and Eastern Europe, where, through a series of discussions and meetings, he presented Montenegro’s perspective on the future of the European Union, enlargement policy and contemporary geopolitical challenges, as well as on the changes that the rapid development of new technologies and artificial intelligence will bring to states and societies in the decades to come.

As part of the plenary session “Leaders of Tomorrow”, Ivanović spoke about digital transformation, the development of artificial intelligence and the responsibility of today’s generations to lay the foundations for the Europe of the future. He stressed that Montenegro sees digital transformation as an important part of its broader development and reform agenda, aimed at creating a more modern and efficient public administration, with services that are more accessible and easier to use for citizens and businesses. However, as he emphasised, genuine transformation does not begin simply with the introduction of new technologies, but above all with investment in people, their knowledge and digital skills.

Montenegro is not investing only in technology. Above all, we are investing in people who, through knowledge, digital skills and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, will build a modern, efficient and citizen-centred public administration, Ivanović said.

Speaking about the potential of artificial intelligence, he noted that its application can significantly improve the work of institutions, speed up information processing, simplify administrative procedures and contribute to better public policy planning. However, as he stressed, technology must not become an end in itself.

We must not digitalise the state for the sake of digitalisation. Technology must have a clear purpose – to make institutions more efficient and people’s lives easier, Ivanović stressed.

Ivanović also noted that in an era of rapid technological progress and the growing role of artificial intelligence, the key qualities of true leaders are becoming credibility, integrity and empathy.

Speaking about the theme of the “Leaders of Tomorrow” panel itself, Ivanović stressed that the leaders of tomorrow are not simply those who will come after us.

Leaders of tomorrow are those who are taking responsibility today for the Europe that others will inherit, Ivanović said, stressing that the future should not be waited for, but built today.

In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović, the panel featured Václav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic and representative of the Václav Klaus Institute; Hal Brands, political author and commentator from the United States; Krzysztof Pawiński, President of the Management Board of the Maspex Group; and Włodzimierz Wlaźlak, CEO at Lidl Poland.

As part of a special Forum session, organised in the form of an interview and dedicated to Montenegro and the EU enlargement process, Ivanović spoke about Montenegro’s European path. On that occasion, he stressed that Montenegro continues to lead among the EU candidate countries and is now entering a decisive phase of its European integration process.

European integration for Montenegro is not just a matter of membership. It is an opportunity to build stronger institutions, strengthen the rule of law and create a state in which citizens feel the tangible benefits of reforms, Ivanović said.

The discussion paid particular attention to the current momentum of the enlargement policy and its significance in today’s new geopolitical and security environment. Ivanović stressed that enlargement is no longer merely a technical accession process, but one of the key strategic issues shaping Europe’s future.

If we want a stronger, safer and more resilient Europe, the enlargement policy must remain credible. Countries that make genuine progress must have a clear European perspective. Progress must be recognised, and reform success must produce tangible results, Ivanović stressed.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović’s participation in the Economic Forum in Karpacz provided an opportunity for Montenegro to present its vision of development and clearly reaffirm its commitment to actively contributing to shaping Europe’s future.

During the first day of the Forum, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović gave an interview to Euronews Poland.