The importance of enhanced cooperation in agriculture and rural development in the context of EU enlargement was underlined during the Berlin Process Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting held in Berlin within the framework of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA).
Discussions focused on several strategic regional priorities, including the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, alignment with the EU acquis, the political and legal framework, the expansion of trade and economic cooperation, and measures to enhance competitiveness. Participants emphasized the role of the Berlin Process as a well-established platform for coordination between national, regional, and European initiatives.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for an exchange of views between agriculture ministers and EU representatives on future cooperation and advancing agricultural dialogue, as well as on joint activities aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry in the coming period.
The meeting was co-chaired by Alois Rainer, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Germany, and Boban Ilić, Secretary General of the Standing Working Group for Regional Rural Development in South Eastern Europe (SWG). Following the opening addresses, participants heard remarks from Elisabeth Werner, Director-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission (DG AGRI).
Montenegro was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Vladimir Joković, who highlighted that the meeting marked the first event held under Montenegro’s Chairmanship of the Berlin Process, underscoring the country’s important role in further advancing regional cooperation and strengthening the European perspective of the Western Balkans.
More information is available at: https://seerural.org/