Joković in Belgrade: Regional cooperation is important for accelerating the European path

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management Vladimir Joković participated in Belgrade at the ministerial meeting of the Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development (SWG), held within the framework of the 20th. Joković thanked Serbia for hosting and organizing the meeting and congratulated on taking over the chairmanship of SWG for the period 2026/2027. "The Berlin Process is not a substitute for the European path, but its concrete supplement – a space where we connect, open markets, and build joint solutions even before we become members of the European Union," Joković said. He emphasized that agriculture and rural development must have a more visible place in regional cooperation, especially through easier access to the EU market, better logistics and transport, faster flow of goods, and greater opportunities for candidate countries to participate in European programs and initiatives. Speaking about Montenegro's European path, Joković recalled that in December last year, chapters 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development and 13 – Fisheries and Aquaculture were closed, while the key priority in the upcoming period is the closure of Chapter 12 – Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Policy. The minister also pointed out the common challenges of the region – climate change, increasingly frequent natural disasters, youth migration, and aging rural populations – highlighting the need for stronger regional cooperation in adapting agriculture to climate change and generational renewal of villages.