Chair of the PA BiH Delegation to PA UfM Milan Petković participated in Cairo at the Forum and Summit of PA UfM Presidents

Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PA BiH) and Chair of the PA BiH Delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (PA UfM) Milan Petković participated in the Forum and Summit of the presidents of the PA UfM, which was held in Cairo under the Egyptian Chairship of this multilateral parliamentary organization.

The focus of this year's Forum and Summit was on the promotion of economic cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean and the revitalization of the Barcelona Process, which 30 years ago gave rise to the Union for the Mediterranean, an organization that brings together all member states of the European Union, 11 countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Monaco and three Balkan and Mediterranean countries - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Montenegro.

The Chair of the PA BiH Delegation to PA UfM, Milan Petković, addressed the participants of the Forum and Summit as part of the discussion on building a positive agenda for the Euro-Mediterranean region, with an emphasis on economic cooperation within the framework of the new Pact for the Mediterranean.

Emphasizing in his speech that today, more than ever, the Mediterranean needs a new vision, based on cooperation, trust and joint solutions, Petković said that economic cooperation must be the basis of that approach - from strengthening trade and investment, through support for innovation and digital transformation, to development initiatives that reduce the differences between the north and the south, the east and the west of the region.

According to Petković, the new Pact for the Mediterranean, presented by the European Commission in October 2025, provides a strong political and strategic basis.

"The Pact promotes economic growth, market integration, digital connectivity and sustainable investments, especially Nagla involves youth involvement, education, mobility and social inclusion. Our vision and proposals directly build on these goals," said Petković.

He added that the key conditions for more successful economic cooperation between the countries of the region are the facilitation of trade procedures and the harmonization of standards, which would reduce costs and speed up exchange between the Mediterranean countries. "It is necessary to further encourage cross-border projects in energy, transport and water supply, including the modernization of ports and railway networks. These initiatives, including increasing the share of renewable energy through solar and wind energy projects, the development of green infrastructure, smart cities, circular economy and modern waste management, directly contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Pact for the Mediterranean", said Petković.

He especially emphasized that there is no sustainable development without equal chances for everyone, and assessed that gender equality and social inclusion are not secondary issues, but key drivers of progress.

"The empowerment of women, young people and vulnerable groups contributes to more stable societies and more competitive economies. Our region can only progress if every voice is respected, and every person gets the opportunity to contribute," said Petković and concluded that with the joint efforts of PA UfM member states, it is possible to build the Mediterranean as an area of ​​dialogue, development and hope, an area where differences are recognized as strength, and cooperation as the only way forward.

The Forum and the PA UfM Summit in Cairo ended with the adoption of a joint declaration entitled "A shared vision. The changing Mediterranean 30 years after the Barcelona Process", in which the participants confirmed that the Mediterranean remains a common and interdependent space, faced with increasingly complex and interconnected challenges that require it to be placed at the core of both European and regional strategic agendas. In the adopted Cairo Declaration, PA UfM underlines the fundamental importance of peace, security, stability, dialogue and respect for international law as the basis of regional cooperation. (end)