PM Spajić participates in the Regional Leaders’ Summit on the Growth Plan

Spajić: Regional cooperation is key to EU integration; Montenegro continues to lead the process – citizens are finally experiencing concrete benefits

Kos: We want you as equal members; Montenegro has the opportunity to meet almost 100% of its Growth Plan obligations

The leaders of the Western Balkans adopted, at the summit in Tirana, a Joint Declaration confirming their strong commitment to faster integration of the region into the European Union’s Single Market and the implementation of the Growth Plan.

As stated at the meeting, this process brings tangible benefits to citizens and businesses, strengthens regional connectivity, and accelerates the European path of all Western Balkan economies.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić emphasized that Montenegro remains firmly committed to implementing the Growth Plan and the Reform Agenda as key pathways to convergence, competitiveness, and EU membership.

As the leader in the accession process, Montenegro, he noted, approaches these initiatives with determination and a clear focus on delivering measurable results.

The Western Balkans no longer have the luxury of gradualism. The global environment demands faster convergence, deeper integration, and stronger capacity to deliver reforms that bring concrete benefits to our citizens and the economy, the Prime Minister said.

He stressed that the Reform Agenda is not merely a technical document, but the central political commitment of the Government of Montenegro – its roadmap for creating a stronger, more competitive, and more resilient economy aligned with the standards and freedoms of the EU Single Market.

Through it, we are implementing structural reforms that enhance the rule of law and governance, strengthen institutions, improve the business environment, and modernize public administration. These reforms are not being implemented because they are required of us, but because they are the only way to ensure long-term stability and prosperity, Prime Minister Spajić stated.

The Prime Minister said that Montenegro is fully committed to regulatory harmonization and technical readiness to ensure timely implementation of the ‘Roam Like at Home’ regime between the EU and the Western Balkans by 2026.

Reducing roaming prices will not only make communication easier, but will strengthen mobility, cross-border business, and digital integration. For us, this measure symbolizes something much greater: it shows that integration into the EU Single Market is no longer a distant goal but a reality our citizens can already feel in their daily lives, the Prime Minister stated.

Equally strategic, he added, is the establishment of a regional initiative for ‘AI factories.’ By investing in digital infrastructure, supporting innovation ecosystems, and aligning with European ethical and regulatory frameworks, our goal is to position our economy within the new technological architecture of Europe, he added.

The Prime Minister noted that Montenegro has entered a new phase of economic development, characterized by the need for diversification and long-term sustainability.

The question before us today is not whether the Western Balkans belong in the European Union. The real question is how quickly and decisively we can implement the reforms that make this integration irreversible. For Montenegro, the answer is clear: our Reform Agenda is the engine of our transformation, the guarantee of our credibility, and the strongest expression of our political commitment to EU membership. Our citizens expect results, not just words. Through these processes, reinforced by regional cooperation and aligned with the EU’s strategic priorities, we intend to deliver those results, Prime Minister Spajić said.

European Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized that Europe cannot be fully secure without the Western Balkans.

We want the European Union to already become a reality for your citizens and for the Growth Plan to succeed. We are at halftime of the Plan’s fulfilment. We have many reasons to celebrate, but at the same time, much work lies ahead. The package worth six billion euros, from 2024 to 2027, allocated to the region, shows that together we can and must do more, Kos stated.

She emphasized that Montenegro has the opportunity to fulfil 98% of its Growth Plan obligations by the end of its implementation in 2027.

The Commissioner said that the EU’s ambition is for all countries of the region to make progress and become equal EU members.

The Joint Declaration adopted today highlights the following key priorities: introduction of the ‘Roam Like at Home’ regime by 2026; launching AI factories as centers for innovation and digital development; creating the Single Market Highway to link companies with European value chains; and establishing the Single Market Academy to raise quality standards and ensure full regulatory alignment with EU rules.

The leaders also emphasized the importance of accelerated accession to the SEPA area, launching the WiFi4WB initiative to provide free internet in public and rural areas, modernizing borders through Green Corridors, and full implementation of the Common Regional Market 2 Action Plan.

These efforts aim to make the Western Balkans Europe’s next major investment destination, increasing the region’s competitiveness and improving everyday life for citizens.

As noted at the Summit, the Growth Plan represents a clear political and strategic framework for the European future of the entire region.

The hosts of the Summit were Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. In addition to Prime Minister Spajić, participants included Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bojana Krišto, Acting Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski, and Prime Minister of Serbia Đuro Macut.