Spajić co-chairs World Economic Forum Annual Meeting: European project must be preserved and advanced

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić is in Dubai, where, at the invitation of Chief Executive Officer of the World Economic Forum Alois Zwinggi, he is co-chairing the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.

As part of the meeting, held from 13 to 15 October, the Prime Minister participated in a panel discussion entitled “Economics After Certainty”, dedicated to economic policymaking in conditions of global uncertainty.

The discussion covered countries’ preparedness to respond to unforeseen circumstances, the balancing of short-term stability with long-term development, and opportunities for smaller economies to strengthen their competitiveness through integration, reforms and innovation.

The Prime Minister emphasised that, for Montenegro, accession to the European Union represents an important development opportunity, primarily through access to the Single Market.

Countries like Montenegro need a larger market. Financial support for projects is important, but the key economic dimension of the European Union is the Single Market, Spajić said.

He recalled the progress achieved following the fulfilment of interim benchmarks in the area of the rule of law in 2024 and stressed that the goal is to close all negotiating chapters by the end of this year, with Montenegro expected to become a full member of the EU in 2028.

Speaking about European competitiveness, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of deepening integration, strengthening the Single Market and removing non-tariff barriers, in line with the direction of the reforms proposed by Mario Draghi. He added that Europe must accelerate technological development, which requires a large market, access to data and faster adoption of new solutions.

Asked about the relationship between fiscal resilience and attracting capital, the Prime Minister said he believed it was possible to reduce the debt burden through economic growth, while clearly distinguishing between areas where expenditure should be reduced and those where room for growth and support should be provided.

Reflecting on economies’ ability to respond to future crises, he stressed that reducing business risks helps companies become more resilient to external shocks.

Despite global challenges, Prime Minister Spajić expressed optimism about the future of the European project, recalling that its significance extends beyond economic integration.

The European Union is one of the last remaining peace projects in the world. It is a genuine achievement that is sometimes overlooked, the Prime Minister said, stressing that the European project must be preserved and advanced.

Through his participation in and co-chairing of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Prime Minister Spajić is contributing to discussions on key development priorities and presenting Montenegro’s potential in the context of European integration and global economic change.