The 17th Annual Working Meeting on November 7th 2023, brought together Ministers of Agriculture from South East Europe (SEE) and Delegation Heads at Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This event was jointly hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South Eastern Europe.
The Minister Vladimir Jokovic, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro handed over the Presidency of the SWG Assembly for the upcoming year to the Minister Stasa Kosarac, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Taking Presidency of the SWG Assembly the aim of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be to promote regional cooperation and integration in the field of agriculture and rural development throughout the entire Western Balkan region and advance the role of SWG in continuing to facilitate regional cooperation in the upcoming period.
The gathering adhered to the established practice of convening a regional platform for the annual Ministerial Meeting. Delegations representing various countries/territories engaged in open discussions about shared interests, assessed the national policy objectives and priorities, and found common ground on various meeting agenda items.
The main discussions summarized in the conclusions, were about various aspects of regional cooperation in agriculture and rural development to accelerate the European Union integration process. Considering the meeting format and the progress made by each party regarding the reforms they have undertaken, the cooperation between the SEE Ministries of Agriculture maintains its focus on implementing regional initiatives and activities utilizing the SWG as an intergovernmental platform for collaboration and networking.
