“Montenegro is ready to submit its application for European Union membership — by the end of 2008 — on the base of its own results, without shortcut nor preferential treatment,” said yesterday, on July 5, 2008, H.E. Prime Minister Milo Đukanović on a visit to Croatia to attend the International Conference “Croatia Summit 2008” of Heads of State and Government, and representatives of international organisation. “With its neighbours, Montenegro hopes for the outcome of Lisbon Treaty ratification process, because a more efficient EU will bring the capacities necessary to realise the objectives laid down by the enlargement policy,” also underscored the Prime Minister, in reply to French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s declaration [1] on July 1st at the beginning of his mandate as European Union leader; a declaration freshly welcomed in the Western Balkan countries, and reported in Montenegro by Podgorica daily “Vijesti” under the title “Sarkozi: Balkan da pričeka” (Sarkozy: The Balkans will have to wait).

On Friday July 4 and Saturday July 5, 2008, at Hotel “Palace” in Dubrovnik, officials from 23 European countries, the USA, Canada, representatives from international organisations, experts of Euro-Atlantic integration and political scientists attended the International Conference “Croatia Summit 2008: Security, Development, Prosperity”, hosted for the third consecutive year by Croatia.

During the Summit, the most important strategic, geopolitical and security policy issues were discussed, through a series of three brainstorming sessions:
 SESSION I: The EU Agenda after Lisbon;
 SESSION II: EU and NATO Enlargement and Southeast Europe; and
 SESSION IIII: Europe’s Energy Strategy.

Participants have sought to identify ways to maximize the process of Euro-Atlantic integration, which has proven to be an effective catalyst for positive transformation in the areas of security and internal reforms, and to aid the creation of prosperity for people. They also discussed how to guarantee the energy security, which is becoming one of today’s major challenges.

The opening session on Friday July 4, was chaired by H.E. Dr. Ivo Sanader, Croatian Prime Minister. Among the other opening speakers were Mr. Luka Bebić, President of the Croatian Parliament, H.E. Mr. Ferenc Gyurcsány, Hungarian Prime Minister and Georgian President H.E. Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili.

The Summit was also attended by Dr. Sali Ram Berisha, Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Robert Fico, Slovakian Prime Minister, Mr. Hashim Thaçi, Prime Minister of Kosovo, Mr. David Bakradzé, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Mr. Dan Fried, US Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, Mrs. Aurélia Bouchez, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Regional, Economic and Security Affairs, Mr. Alexander Vondra, Vice-Prime Minister of the Government of the Czech Republic, Mr. Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Mr. Sven Alkalaj, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mrs. Antonio Milošoski, Macedonian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norbert Darabos, Austrian Minister of Defence, Dr. Mehmet Hilmi Güler, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey, Mr. Christian Schmidt, Parliamentary State Secretary, Ministry of Defence of Germany, and Mr. Hido Biščević, Secretary General of Regional Co-operation Council for South Eastern Europe.

Also present were officials and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accreditated to Croatia, representatives from EU institutions, NGO sector, bussines community and a number of experts.