(ANSA) - BUDVA, MAY 7 - Montenegrin Prime Minister Dusko Markovic opened today in Budva the fourth Forum of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region (Eusair), as Montenegro holds the annual rotating presidency. "The strong economic growth of Montenegro indicates the right direction of the development that we have undertaken and that we are reliable partners and future members of the EU", Prime Minister said.

Among plenty of macro-regional projects, the ongoing construction of a 440 km submarine power cable to connect the Jaz promontory, in Budva, with Pescara (Italy), is one of the most important both for the two countries and for the macro-region itself. "The vision for our future includes Montenegro as the energy hub of the macro-region, with the submarine cable connecting us to Italy and with the growth of renewable energy," Markovic explained. The Prime Minister also aims to the construction of the country's first highway and the creation of an International Institute for Sustainable Technologies in South-Eastern Europe, to "contribute to regional prosperity and slow the brain drain".

Montenegro is currently holding the presidency of the macro-region, entrusted for the first time to a non-EU country.

"We accepted the presidency as a challenge, but also as an additional responsibility, aware that macro-regional cooperation is a way to strengthen our European integration process", highlighted the premier. (ANSA).