Ambassador of EU in Montenegro Oana Kristina Popa gave a lecture
The Faculty of Economics in Podgorica received the project "Jean Monnet Center of Excellence: Challenges of Enlargement Policy - European Versus Chinese Diplomacy in the Western Balkans 2020-2023", within the Erasmus + program. This is a prestigious EU project, which the University of Montenegro and the faculty itself will position at the European and world level, as institutions capable of excellence in teaching and research in the field of international relations, European issues and integration. The role of the Center of Excellence itself will be to stimulate debate on enlargement and the effects of geopolitics in Montenegro, through the active engagement of local, European and Chinese experts.
During the presentation of the project to students, which was organized at the Faculty of Economics on the occasion of the beginning of the second semester, Dean Nikola Milović pointed out that the project will affect the modernization of the curriculum in European subjects, as well as changes in working methods, which will lead to reform and modernization of teaching process.
"I am convinced that another Jean Monnet project at the Faculty of Economics, but also the first Center of Excellence, will contribute primarily to the quality of the teaching process, and then consequently to the development of Montenegro as a knowledge-based society, with the support of one of the main foreign policy goals." that is full membership in the European Union ", said Milović.
The project is led by professor Danijela Jaćimović, who pointed out that the project refers to excellence in teaching and research, in which, as she says, the Faculty of Economics has always been an innovator.
"We will have the opportunity to host about 10 professors from the EU and China, who will be actively involved in the process of teaching for undergraduate, master's and doctoral students. This is very important, because our students are future professionals, who will work in the public and private sector and contribute to the quality of their knowledge to the European processes facing Montenegro", said Jovićevic.
The presentation of the project was also attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Oana Kristina Popa, who on that occasion gave a short lecture on the relationship between European and Chinese diplomacy in Montenegro. In her introductory address, Popa congratulated the faculty and drew attention to how honorable it is to receive such a project, especially if it is known that it is awarded for the first time in Montenegro.
"The research conducted through this project will be very important, both for European institutions and for Montenegrin policy makers at different levels. That is why I call on all project participants to include decision-makers in the essential dialogue," said Popa.
During her lecture, the ambassador referred to the assessment that the EU and China are opposed in the Western Balkans, as two forces fighting for influence. She thinks that this view of the relationship is too simplistic.
The EU offers not only economic benefits, but also the prospect of membership and the solidarity that accompanies it. We show this solidarity with Montenegro in continuity. During the past year, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU donated 53 million euros worth of aid, both for immediate needs - such as masks, respirators and other equipment, and for longer-term investments such as hospital construction, economic support and unemployment, "the ambassador reminded. EU in Montenegro.
She emphasized that the future of Montenegro and the entire Western Balkans lies in the EU, which was confirmed by a recent public opinion poll which showed that 75% of Montenegrin citizens support the accession of the EU state.
“Montenegro chooses the EU, and the EU also chooses Montenegro. As the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Layen, stated in her speech on the state of the Union: the Western Balkans is a part of Europe - and not just a stopover on the Silk Road. This does not mean that the Western Balkans should reject the opportunities offered by Chinese economic activity in the region. After all, the region has significant investment needs. But investment projects should be in line with the region's intention to join the EU. "Investments should respect European policies and rules in relation to, for example, public procurement, competition, environment, energy or transport," Popa said.
During the lecture, Popa also stated that the EU itself has strong relations with China. That relationship is at the same time one of the most strategically important and one of the most challenging we have, she stated.
“China is, at the same time and in different areas, a cooperation partner with which the EU has closely aligned objectives; a negotiating partner with whom the EU needs to find a balance of mutual interests; economic competitor in search of technological progress; but also a systemic rival that promotes alternative management models. "In order to manage relations with China in the years to come, we must preserve strong unity between EU member states and future member states, such as Montenegro, in relation to all these issues," Popa concluded.
Just like the lecture of Ambassador Pope, all classes organized within this project will be in English. This will create the conditions for five subjects at the Faculty of Economics of UCG and three subjects at the Humanities of UDG to be accredited in English in the field of international relations and European integration.