The historical connection and common values among the peoples of the Mediterranean represent a solid foundation for building sustainable partnerships, said Gordan Stojović, a member of the Europe Now Movement (PES).
The Parliament of Montenegro announced today that Stojović, who is also a member of the Delegation of the Parliament of Montenegro to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, participated in the Parliamentary Forum for the Future of the Mediterranean, which was held from 2 to 4 April 2025 in Granada, as part of the Spanish presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean.
"The event brought together the presidents of parliaments and MPs of the member states of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean, MPs of the European Parliament, as well as representatives of the parliamentary assemblies of NATO, OSCE, IPU and the Council of Europe," the statement reads.
The Assembly said that the forum was opened by the President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Spanish Senate, Pedro Rolan Ojeda.
"In the introductory part, the participants were addressed by King Felipe VI of Spain, who emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation structures among Mediterranean countries in order to jointly respond to key regional challenges such as migration, climate change and youth unemployment," the Assembly said.
The statement added that, speaking as part of the first thematic session, Stojović emphasized that the historical connection and common values among the peoples of the Mediterranean represent a solid foundation for building sustainable partnerships.
"He recalled that throughout the centuries, trade, migration and cultural exchange have been the foundations of stability in the region, and that today it is crucial to return to these principles in order to respond to contemporary challenges such as the conflict in the Middle East, illegal migration and economic inequality. He pointed out the need for concrete policies that will respond to challenges through cooperation and sustainable economic models instead of closed and restrictive approaches," the statement reads.
The Parliament stated that Stojović particularly emphasized the importance and urgent need for a balanced approach, in which immediate humanitarian assistance must be combined with long-term economic measures that ensure stability and create sustainable opportunities.
"He highlighted the possibilities of open markets and practical solutions based on the real needs of each country, emphasizing that the future of the region depends on the ability to overcome divisions and find common interests through dialogue and cooperation," the Assembly said.
The statement also states that European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica stressed the need for joint action to achieve stability and prosperity in the region, and presented the new Pact for the Mediterranean - the main political instrument that the European Commission plans to establish to deepen strategic cooperation with its southern and eastern neighbors.
"During the three-day discussions, MPs from the region and the European Union, together with experts, discussed the issues of open conflicts in the Mediterranean - in particular the situation in the Middle East, as well as the consequences of climate change, especially in the context of rising temperatures, decreasing water resources and ecosystem degradation. Discussions were also held on youth employment and promoting gender equality, with the presentation of strategies for increasing youth employment, including improving the education system and encouraging entrepreneurship," the statement reads.
The Assembly said that special attention was paid to the analysis of the causes of migration movements, with participants exchanging experiences and proposals with the aim of looking at migration through a multidimensional approach.
"The need for coordinated action in managing migration flows was highlighted, with full respect for the human rights of migrants and refugees. The importance of cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination was also emphasized, as well as the necessity of creating policies that address the main causes of migration. On the occasion of the forum, the Spanish Parliament launched the 'Garden of Peace' initiative, within which MPs symbolically planted olive trees from their countries, including the Montenegrin indigenous variety of Žutica, in the Alhambra, in the Palace of Charles V, promoting the idea of establishing olive groves throughout the Mediterranean as a symbol of peace and cooperation among peoples," the statement from the Parliament of Montenegro states.
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