Podgorica, (MINA) – By officially assuming the chairmanship of the Berlin Process this year, Montenegro has confirmed its role as a leader of regional cooperation and the most serious EU membership candidate, the Ministry of Public Administration (MJU) announced.

The Ministry stated that, under the motto “Region in Motion – Owners of Change”, the chairmanship focuses on public administration reform, as a key pillar of institutional reliability, recognizing that as much as 40 percent of the upcoming obligations in the negotiation process directly depend on the professionalization and capacity of the state administration.

At the opening of the “People4Europe” ministerial meeting in Budva, it was emphasized that no strategy can replace the power of competent individuals, which is why the focus will be on attracting and retaining talent, strengthening integrity and connecting work results with real performance.

Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj stressed that without a functional and professional public administration, there is no successful fulfillment of the European agenda.

“Our path to the EU is clear and irreversible, and the reforms we implement start with the people and end with the citizens’s trust. Chairmanship over the Berlin Process is an opportunity to demonstrate that knowledge and responsibility are the only safe path to the European family of nations”, said Dukaj.

Director for the Western Balkans Western Balkans, Turkey, the Council of Europe and the OSCE in the German Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michael Reiffenstuel, emphasized the strong support of Germany and the Berlin Process for reforms in the region.

ReSPA Director Maja Handjiska Trendafilova thanked the Government of Montenegro and the MJU for their cooperation in organizing the event, as well as the Government of Germany, the European Commission and partners from the region and the EU for their continued support in strengthening public administrations in the region.

Director for the Western Balkans at the DG NEAR Valentina Superti said that building strong administrative capacities is an essential prerequisite for progress towards EU membership.