Milan Petković, Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH and head of the BiH Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), is participating in the UfM Parliamentary Presidents’ Forum and Summit held in Cairo under Egypt’s presidency of this multilateral parliamentary organisation.
This year’s Forum and Summit focuses on strengthening economic cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean and revitalising the Barcelona Process, which gave rise to the Union for the Mediterranean 30 years ago. The organisation brings together all EU member states, 11 countries of the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Monaco and three Balkan and Mediterranean states — BiH, Albania and Montenegro.
Petković addressed participants during the session of the UfM Committee on Political Affairs, Security and Human Rights dedicated to peace and stability in the Mediterranean region.
Emphasising that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but also requires economic prospects, social security and environmental sustainability, Petković discussed the humanitarian and security crisis as one of the region’s greatest challenges.
“Every year, thousands of people set out on the journey across the Mediterranean. They flee conflict, poverty and climate change. For many, it is a journey of hope — but for far too many, it ends in tragedy,” Petković warned. At the same time, he noted that the countries where migrants arrive face numerous difficulties, including insecurity, insufficient accommodation capacity, public polarisation, high costs and challenges of integration.
According to Petković, UfM member states have an obligation to first support the countries from which migrants originate.
“We must help economies weakened by conflict, corruption and lack of investment, support agriculture suffering from drought, and assist infrastructure collapsing under the effects of climate change, poverty and political instability,” he stated, adding that people stay in their homelands when they have the conditions to do so.
Assessing Mediterranean stability as a strategic necessity, Petković said it would be difficult to preserve Europe’s stability without building a stable Mediterranean. In this regard, he stressed the need to strengthen institutions, encourage political dialogue and reinforce mechanisms that prevent the escalation of existing tensions.
He noted that every armed conflict in the Mediterranean has consequences that spill across borders.
“That is why we have a responsibility to support all processes that lead to de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of disputes, based on international law and respect for sovereignty,” Petković concluded.
During the Forum and Summit, participants will also discuss building a positive agenda for the Euro-Mediterranean region, with an emphasis on economic cooperation within the new Mediterranean Pact. The event is expected to conclude with the adoption of a joint declaration of the UfM Parliamentary Presidents’ Forum and Summit.
Source: RTRS
