The enlargement of the European Union (EU) is the main goal of the Central European Initiative (CEI), it was announced at the meeting of the convention to strengthen the CEI.
The Parliament of Montenegro said that the President of the Committee for International Relations and Emigrants, Duško Stjepović, also attended the meeting.
The meeting, held in Trieste on Sunday and Monday, brought together representatives of the parliamentary and governmental dimensions of the CEI.
As stated, the meeting was an opportunity for an exchange of opinions and discussions with the aim of finding new modalities of action and further strengthening the role of that regional initiative on the international level, especially in the context of the European integration of candidate countries for EU membership.
Stjepović thanked for recognizing the importance of dynamizing the enlargement process, especially through the example of Montenegro as the most advanced candidate country for membership.
He stated that in the parliament, Montenegro recently took a big step in the direction of getting closer to the EU, through the prompt reaction of the new parliamentary convocation and appointments in the judiciary.
Stjepović emphasized the necessity of better positioning, stronger and more concrete action of the CEI, as a forum that brings together a significant number of EU member states and the majority of candidate states for membership in the Union.
It was announced from the Assembly that at the meeting it was assessed that, taking into account the increasing, complex and new challenges that affect international peace and security, there is an evident high expectation and demand of the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe - for stronger promotion of European integration as a true model for effective resolution of current challenges.
"In this sense, an organization like CEI is designated as a unique forum that brings these countries together and can represent an opportunity to provide quick and flexible solutions to challenges," the statement said.
It is stated that the need to find opportunities for CEI to become a strong interlocutor in favor of European integration and enlargement was also emphasized.
"Taking into account the key role of regional cooperation in the construction of Europe during the past three decades, the necessity of further positioning the process of enlargement of the European Union as a central element of CEI's activities was emphasized," the statement added.
The Assembly said that it was pointed out that such an approach would enable CEI to act as an advocate of EU enlargement for CEI member states that are in candidate status for EU membership.
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