Thank you, Mr Chair.
The United Kingdom congratulates Montenegro on a successful Berlin Process Summit and its leadership over the past year.
The Berlin Process is helping to deliver practical progress on integration, resilience and reconciliation, strengthening the Western Balkans and, in doing so, strengthening Europe as a whole.
Security in the Western Balkans and across Europe is indivisible. The threats we face in Europe do not stop at borders. Our response to malign actors seeking to exploit divisions within our societies and weaknesses in our institutions must therefore be broader than security alone.
Stronger institutions build resilience. Economic integration and closer alignment with European standards create opportunity and prosperity. Serious commitment to gender equality and tackling violence against women and girls is critical: strong societies offer opportunity and security to everyone. And reconciliation is difficult but vital in building trust and social cohesion.
Each of these elements is essential. None can succeed in isolation.
For as long as the Berlin Process continues to deliver practical progress strengthening cooperation and resilience, it will remain a relevant and significant framework. And the UK will support it strongly.
Thank you, Mr Chair.