Ladies and Gentlemen,
Unfortunately, I am unable to be present with you today but I am honored to have this opportunity to address you from New York.
First of all, I would like to thank Amb. Zlatko Lagumdžija for inviting me to participate in the Economic Forum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, an important platform to foster dialogue on pressing economic challenges and policy issues in the Country and in the Balkans.
As you all know, the reunification of the Balkans to the European Union is a key priority for the Italian Government and of our Presidency of the G7.
As a new European institutional cycle is about to start, Italy will work to accelerate the process of European integration together with other EU Member States and European Institutions – Council, Commission and Parliament – to ensure the Balkans remain at the center of the European agenda.
The decision of the European Council in March to open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina is a clear positive signal not just to Sarajevo, but also to the entire region.
The Forum today is particularly timely, a week after the high level Conference on the Western Balkans that celebrated 10 years of the Berlin process, reinforcing that the future of the region is in the European Union and that it is time for the prospective membership to be translated into action. Current geopolitical uncertainties only increase its urgency.
During Berlin meeting we also witnessed the unblocking of the Central-European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) as a key pillar for the implementation of the Common Regional Market, that will concretely contribute to the development of the regional market and bring substantive benefits to the citizens in the region.
To consolidate the integration process of the region, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, convened meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the Western Balkans together with the Group of “Friends of the Western Balkans” in New York on the side of the high-level week of the UN General Assembly both in 2023 and this year.
Building on the strong relations between Italy and the Balkans, together with Amb. Zlatko Lagumdžija, we launched at the United Nations an informal “Working Group on the Western Balkans 2030 for the SDGs and the European Union”. The rationale of this initiative is clear and simple. In Western Balkans, the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and the European Union integration processes are structurally interlinked and they go hand in hand: the two processes mutually benefit each other. The Action of the UN Development System in the Western Balkans is therefore instrumental to advance both agendas, in full support of the Governments’ action.
I would like to thank Director Steiner and UNDP Assistant Administrator Ivana Zivcovic – who will participate to the Forum today – for the fruitful cooperation that allowed an in-depth exchange that led to define initiatives aimed at accelerating SDGs implementation and EU integration processes in five key areas: green economy, digital transformation, welfare economy, economic integration, and disaster risk reduction.
In particular with UNDP we developed 4 initiatives:
- The first initiative, in the green economy sector, involves the regional extension of the project launched by UNDP in Montenegro “Fostering Just Transition Towards Green Economy,” with EU funding.
- In the digital sector, UNDP aims to create a consortium to establish a wireless connectivity infrastructure, to improve the quality of public services.
- UNDP is also working with UNICEF in the care economy sector, with the aim of strengthening the welfare state by developing small and medium-sized enterprises and training workers in the sector.
- The fourth initiative concerns the economic integration between the Western Balkans and the EU, through the training of experts who can assist the countries of the region in the process of aligning with the acquis communautaire.
Additionally, the Working Group supported the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction UNDRR in presenting a project to implement in the Western Balkans a regional system of Early Warnings and strengthen cross-border collaboration, promoting climate change adaptation that would help align the region with European civil protection standards.
The working group also facilitated synergies between the UN agencies and the Western Balkans Growth Plan, that the Commission adopted in November last year. It is a great opportunity that cannot be missed and will help progressive integration into the European single market and the acceleration of reforms to support the Balkans in adapting to the European Union.
The Western Balkans remain a priority with respect to Italy’s Development Cooperation. We work together on priority sectors such as food security and agriculture development, health, environmental protection, sustainable tourism and intercultural dialogue. Among these initiatives we are also supporting the “Enterprise Expansion Fund” managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, in support of small and medium enterprises in the whole region.
Through initiatives such as NaturBosnia and Via delle Cascate, our Cooperation has actively promoted sustainable tourism by preserving natural heritage and fostering employment opportunities for local communities.
In the cultural sector, we have proudly supported the Ars Aevi project, which envisions the establishment of a new Contemporary Art Museum in Sarajevo – serving as both a symbol of international dialogue and a testament to the resilience of the Bosnian capital.
Additionally, we collaborate closely with specialized United Nations agencies, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), to strengthen disaster preparedness and response efforts, and with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to enhance the capacities and coordination of judicial authorities and law enforcement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of combating corruption and organized crime.
We also promote partnership with the private sector as a key driver of shared prosperity and a trigger of innovative solutions to ensure long lasting and sustainable impact on the ground.
The EU enlargement to the Balkans is the most important strategic investment of the Union and the European integration is not complete without the normalization of relations in the region and its reunification with the European family.
The implementation of UN Agenda 2030 in the region can positively impact the full integration of the Western Balkans into the EU family.
