The Belgrade Declaration approved at the XIV Adriatic Ionian Council

The XIV Adriatic-Ionian Initiative Council meeting, which concludes the Serbian Presidency, was held in Belgrade on April 30, 2012.

The meeting was attended by representatives of AII Participant States. Representatives of the Regional Initiatives also took part in the meeting as special guests. The EU was represented by its office in Belgrade.

The participants discussed the current situation in the regional and how to further strengthen regional cooperation. They expressed their satisfaction with the progress of the of the Western Balkans states in ther respective EU processes and their hope that this will be intensified.

The support of all participant States of the AII fot the development of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian region was reaffirmed. This is a strategic initiative that should support the development needs of the Adriatic Ionian area modeled on the already adopted Danube and Baltic Region Strategies.

The Belgrade Declaration was adopted with the wish that the European Council could approve the mandate to the European Commission for the start-up of the action plan of the Strategy this year.

The participants congratulated the Republic of Serbia for its successful one year presidency over the initiative which formally ends on May 31st 2012.

The Republic of Slovenia will take over the AII Chairmanship starting from June 1st.

The BELGRADE DECLARATION is attached.