In Bečići, Montenegro, the 12th Regional Summit of Governors, Finance Ministers and Tax Chiefs gathered senior figures from across the Western Balkans — and, for the first time, EU and international institutions — to address the region’s economic future.
Opened by Montenegro’s central bank governor Dr Irena Radović, EU enlargement director Gert Jan Kopman, and Serbia’s economists’ alliance head Aleksandar Vlahović, the summit became a platform for frank dialogue amid global uncertainty.
Radović stressed that regional cooperation is essential for financial stability, citing energy security, anti-money laundering, and digital risks as shared challenges.
Kopman praised the region’s SEPA ambitions, linking it to reduced costs and greater investor confidence.
With the EU’s backing, leaders vowed to accelerate reforms and integration, agreeing that only united action can deliver prosperity in turbulent times.