Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII)

Regional Initiatives

In the framework of cooperation between parliaments of the region, which takes place through the mechanisms of regional initiatives, the role of the Parliament of Montenegro was recognized as constructive and comprehensive, and especially dedicated to further development and enhancement of capacities of regional initiatives, of which being the member. The initiatives in question are the Central European Initiative (CEI), Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) and the Process of Co-operation in South East Europe (SEECP).

Regional cooperation is a key element of the integration process, especially the process of stabilization and association, and the sheer speed of the process of EU integration certainly depends on the mutual cooperation of Balkan countries and their willingness to belong to the united Europe.

Generally speaking, the Parliament of Montenegro has been characterized as an example of a legislative body that through participation in mechanisms of regional action maintained good relations with the countries of the region and promoted co-operation towards regional stability. Parliamentary commitment to regional cooperation has been manifested through active participation in the parliamentary assembly and operation of regional initiatives, and the successful chairmanship of Montenegro over these initiatives in 2010 and 2011.

The objective of starting the Initiative in 2000 was to improve development and strengthen security in the Adriatic-Ionian area, intensify cooperation among the countries in the region

and provide incentives for countries in transition towards the integration process and the European Union. The AII is realised through two forums: a forum for the exchange of political opinions and a forum for achieving multilateral cooperation in several areas (transport, marine, tourism, education, environment and cultural heritage, development of small and medium-sized enterprises struggle against all forms of organized crime, rural development).

AII member states are seven European countries, which border the Adriatic and/or the Ionian Sea: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Italy, the Republic of Slovenia, and as a successor to the membership, the Republic of Serbia.

During the Montenegrin presidency over the AII Parliamentary Dimension (May 2010 – May 2011), the Parliament of Montenegro organised the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the AII Member States (April 2011), where two topics were predominant: “The Mediterranean region – Cradle of Multiculturalism” and “Sustainable Development of Energy Sector in the Adriatic-Ionian Region”.

Tenth Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative was held on 26 April 2012 in Belgrade. Conference participants discussed the issue of strengthening the role of parliament in regional cooperation, and the establishment of the parliamentary dimension of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative. Speaker of the parliament of the Montenegro Ranko Krivokapic attended the Summit.

Recently, the Assembly of the Parliament of Slovenia, which this year chairs the Parliamentary Dimension AII, forwarded a letter stating the initiative of Italian parliamentarians to create a more structured parliamentary cooperation at the regional framework, which would seem to mark the discussion at the next Summit of Presidents of Parliaments.

Under the Slovenian presidency of the Adriatic Ionian Initiative, the President of the Parliament of Montenegro Ranko Krivokapic, attended the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the AII on 12 and 13 May in Kranj. Topics included in the work of the Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the AII were the "Adriatic-Ionian cooperation as a means of confronting with common challenges and encourage countries of the Western Balkans closer to the European Union" and "Establishment of European macro-regional strategies and the role of AII - involvement and perspective of the parliamentary dimension of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative”.

Regional Initiatives