President Siljanovska-Davkova, as part of her participation in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community, which is being held in Yerevan, Armenia, addressed today the round table on the topic “Strengthening Connectivity and Economic Security in the context of the green transition”.
She assessed that the current global conflicts and energy turbulences create serious risks to energy stability, with small states being particularly vulnerable thereto.
For Siljanovska-Davkova, energy connectivity is not only an economic issue, but also a national, regional and European security priority.
She believes that the biggest obstacles to energy connectivity in the Western Balkans are not technical but political in nature.
According to her, bilateral disputes and the (ab)use of the veto cause more damage to regional connectivity than any lack of infrastructure. “Every frozen integration process means frozen investment and future”, the President said.
Siljanovska-Davkova concluded that the countries in the region individually have limited capacities, but through joint action they can become valuable European partners. Common infrastructure creates mutual interests and interdependence of states, which in turn affects the reduction of the risk of conflicts and greater resilience of third parties.
Instead of concentrated energy dependence, Siljanovska-Davkova needs diversification through new and alternative energy corridors and connections with different sources, including from the Western Balkans and the Caspian region.
In her address, she pointed out that the green transition and energy security are part of the same strategic project and that renewable energy sources are key to greater independence and stability.
The round table was chaired by the prime ministers of Croatia and Norway, Andrej Plenkovic and Jonas Gahr Store. The Vice President of Turkey, the Prime Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Georgia, Slovakia, the Secretary General of the OSCE, as well as the President of the European Commission participated in the discussion.
