Business Cooperation and Product Uniqueness: The Recipe for Competitiveness

This was stated at the panel “The Montenegrin Economy on the Day of EU Accession,” held as part of the B4EU initiative—Preparing the Montenegrin Economy for European Union Membership—organized by the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro and the Ministry of European Affairs. Dr. Gordana Đurović emphasized that the aim of the series of meetings is to encourage dialogue between institutions and the business community, raise issues important to companies, and help find answers to the challenges awaiting Montenegro’s economy during the EU accession process. The President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, Dr. Nina Drakić, said that EU membership changes the business framework from day one, stressing that competitiveness is not gained through an accession treaty but built much earlier. “Membership will be an important historic achievement, but its economic success will depend on what we do before the first day,” she said, adding: “The success of this process should not be measured only by the number of regulations adopted or panels held, but by the number of companies that have increased exports, modernized their operations, created new jobs, and become part of European value chains.” Ambassador Johann Sattler, Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, said that EU membership would open the door for Montenegrin businesses to a market of nearly 450 million consumers. It was concluded that preparing for EU membership entails much more than formally aligning with regulations; it requires strategic planning, investment in quality and productivity, and cooperation between institutions and the business community so that Montenegrin companies can be as prepared as possible for membership and take advantage of the opportunities it brings.