Kyriakos Hadjiyianni delivers opening remarks at Second Inter-Parliamentary Forum in Podgorica, 19 Sept. 2024PODGORICA, 21 September 2024 – More than 20 parliamentarians gathered in Podgorica and Budva on 19-20 September for the Second Inter-Parliamentary Forum, organized by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on South East Europe Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus). Hosted by the Montenegrin Delegation to the OSCE PA, with support from the Parliament of Montenegro, the forum provided an opportunity for parliamentarians from South East Europe and beyond to engage in meaningful exchanges and strengthen collaboration on “Regional Co-operation for a Thriving Tourism Sector.”

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro Nikolla Camaj, OSCE PA President Pia Kauma (Finland), Special Representative Hadjiyianni and Head of the Delegation of Montenegro to the OSCE PA Jelena Nedović delivered opening remarks to inaugurate the second forum. Delegations from Greece, Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Luxembourg, and Montenegro participated in the event.

Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro Nikolla Camaj delivers remarks on 19 Sept. 2024, Podgorica“Today’s discussions present an opportunity for participants to exchange experiences and jointly identify challenges and opportunities that could lead to the creation of new policies, fostering favorable conditions for investment and innovation,” said Deputy Speaker Camaj. “Our strength lies in joint co-operation and solidarity. That’s why we are here today, in the spirit of collaboration and mutual respect, recognizing shared challenges.”

In her video message, President Kauma emphasized that political, economic, and security stability are essential for the region's prosperity, noting that the widely shared goal for the Western Balkans is European Union membership. “By working closely with delegations from EU countries in South East Europe, as well as neighbors like Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy, you strengthen the region’s path toward that goal,” she said. “This partnership benefits not only the Western Balkans but all of Europe.”

Special Representative Hadjiyianni said that the goal of the Podgorica forum is to build stronger ties among parliamentarians across South East Europe to foster regional co-operation and peacebuilding.

“The challenges are many, but the opportunities for collaboration are vast. By strengthening our ties, we can address these challenges with a united front,” said Hadjiyianni. Reflecting on the previous forum in Tirana, he added, “We initiated important discussions on key regional issues such as tourism, energy, migration, science diplomacy, depopulation, brain drain, and the need to attract foreign investment to South East Europe. These topics are crucial for the future prosperity of our region, and we have collectively agreed to pursue them in future forums.”

JelJelena Nedović delivers remarks in Podgorica, 19 Sept. 2024ena Nedović, Head of the Montenegrin Delegation to the OSCE PA, emphasized the role of tourism in the region, which she said plays an important role culturally, economically, and geographically. “Through joint co-operation, we can harness the full potential of this sector, benefiting not only individual countries but the entire region,” Nedović said. “Let’s use this opportunity to strengthen our partnership and work towards a brighter and more progressive future for tourism in South East Europe.”

During three sessions focused on tourism as a key economic driver in the region, participants discussed its role as a driver of economic growth, as well as the importance of sustainability, resilience and innovation in the tourism sector. Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Ana Marković Tripković, Director of the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro, and Silvana Đurašević, Dean and Professor at the Faculty of Tourism at the Mediterranean University Podgorica, provided opening remarks for each session.

The agenda also included discussions on the work of the OSCE Mission in Montenegro, EU integration efforts, and co-operation among delegations to the OSCE PA.

Giovanni Gabassi, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, gave an overview of the organization’s work over the years, highlighting its current programmes and projects. These include working with the Parliament of Montenegro on enhancing the skills of parliamentary staff, the digital transformation of the Parliament’s Library, providing equipment for live streaming committee meetings and simultaneous interpretation at international conferences, and promoting a gender-sensitive parliament.

Participants of the Second Inter-Parliamentary Forum, 19 Sept. 2024The Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Riccardo Serri, also offered insights into the government's efforts toward European integration. Both Gabassi and Serri praised the Inter-Parliamentary Forum as an important initiative for South East Europe.

At the forum's conclusion, the Greek and Italian delegations expressed their willingness to host future forums, focusing on Combating Organized Crime in Italy and Energy in Greece.

The forum ended with the participants agreeing on a joint declaration affirming their commitment to enhanced co-operation and friendly relations.

Photos of the Podgorica event are available on Flickr.