European Economic
and Social Committee
Programme
08:30–9:00 | Registration of participants
09:00–10:15 | Inaugural session
Opening remarks by Srđa KEKOVIĆ and Danko RELIĆ, co chairs of the EU-Montenegro Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)
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Current state of play in EU-Montenegro relations, including:
˗ Reform Agenda and Growth Plan for the Western Balkans
˗ Implementation of the Fundamentals Cluster
˗ preparations for the EU-Western Balkans Summit to be held in June 2026 in Montenegro
- Maida GORČEVIĆ, Minister of European Affairs in the Government of Montenegro
- Riccardo SERRI, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro
- Dejan MILOVAC, Network for Affirmation of NGO Sector – MANS
- Dragana JAĆIMOVIĆ, Institut Alternativa
- Vesna DAKOVIĆ, JCC MNE, Business Associations
Debate
10:15–10:30 | Coffee break
10:30–12:00 | Chapter 19 - Social Policy and Employment (including social dialogue)
- Naida NIŠIĆ, Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Dialogue of Montenegro
- Marko ĆIPOVIĆ, Negotiator for Chapter 19 of the accession negotiations with the EU
- Ivana MIHAJLOVIĆ, Trade Unions
- Rumica KOSTIĆ, JCC MNE, Business Associations
- Tatjana DŽUDOVIĆ, JCC MNE, Trade Unions
- Marina VUJAČIĆ, JCC MNE, CSOs
- Dumitru FORNEA, JCC EU, Trade Unions
Debate
12.00–13:00 | Coordination of Structural Instruments and preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
- Bojan VUJOVIĆ, Director General for European Affairs, Ministry of European Affairs, Negotiator for Chapter 22 of the accession negotiations with the EU
- Melanie BRIDE, Programme Manager for Cross-Border Cooperation and Horizontal Issues Delegation of the EU to Montenegro
- Monika PANAYOTOVA, JCC EU, on Global Europe and Agora/Justice programmes
Debate
13:00–14:30 | Lunch break
14:30–16:00 | Overview of the civil society situation in Montenegro
- Liselotte ISAKSSON, Deputy Head of Cooperation Section at the Delegation of the EU to Montenegro
- Zorana MARKOVIĆ, JCC MNE, CSOs
- Daliborka ULJAREVIĆ, Centre for Civic Education (CCE/CGO)
- Kristina MIHAILOVIĆ, NGO Parents
Debate
16:00–16:30 | Adoption of the Joint declaration
16:30 | End of meeting
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