Abela calls for greater cooperation as Europe faces geopolitical challenges

As the complexities facing Europe increase in the face of the current geopolitical situation, the Prime Minister has urged an expansion of “cooperation with the wider world”.

On his first overseas trip just days after returning to Castille, Robert Abela was in Montenegro to attend the European Union-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat.

During the summit, leaders discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between the European Union and the region at a time of increasingly complex geopolitical challenges.

“Given the realities we are living through, with the challenges arising from the war between Ukraine and Russia and the conflicts in the Arabian Gulf, the complexity facing our continent is constantly increasing,” Abela said.

“The way forward is undoubtedly to expand our cooperation with the wider world,” he added.

The prime minister continued that the region is “strategically one of the most important for us in consolidating the continent and strengthening unity and prosperity for our peoples”.

During the meetings, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of EU member states and the Western Balkan countries continuing to work together to enhance the security, stability and resilience of the entire continent.

He said that through open dialogue, practical cooperation and strong partnerships, Europe would be better positioned to address current challenges while building a safer future for its citizens.

Discussions at the summit also focused on progress in the integration process of the Western Balkan countries with the European Union, as well as on initiatives delivering tangible benefits to citizens and businesses in the region.

The prime minister underlined that closer cooperation between the EU and these countries is essential for strengthening economic conditions, democratic resilience and European security.

“The way forward is to continue supporting these countries on their path towards remaining close to the European Union and, when the time comes—that is, once all the necessary reforms have been implemented and they meet the established criteria, as all of us had to do—to also join our family,” Abela said.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told the summit the EU needs to move from words to action. Photo: European Parliament

‘We have to move from words to action’ - Metsola

Addressing the summit, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola stressed that security and stability of the EU are directly linked to the future of tis immediate neighbourhood.

In a speech focusing on geostrategic security, President Metsola warned of the consequences of inaction at a time when the European project is facing external pressures from all sides.

"We have to move from words to action. And if we talk about what enlargement means, enlargement means that we can win economically, become stronger, politically, we can provide more security to our citizens," Metsola said.

She explained that long-term continental security relies on practical integration that delivers stability and predictability in transport, infrastructure, and energy connectivity.

In this context, she highlighted the European Parliament’s rapid adoption of the €6 billion Reform and Growth Facility, alongside the mandate to bring the Western Balkans into the EU’s 'Roam Like at Home' regime.

Metsola reiterated that the integration process remains strictly merit-based to safeguard the rule of law and fundamental rights, which form the bedrock of European security. 

Addressing the Parliament of Montenegro, the President of the European Parliament said that Montenegro’s place is within the European Union and that the future of Europe and of the Western Balkans nations must be one and the same. 

She also acknowledged the fears of the Montenegrin people in this final stretch, recalling the similar anxieties Malta faced before accession regarding national identity, geographical distance, and being “too small to matter”.

However, she said that in the EU, it is the strength of arguments rather than a country's size that counts. Sharing her own journey, she noted how a young girl from a small Mediterranean island could grow up to lead a parliament of 720 Members.