The two-day event is jointly organized by the Ministry of European Affairs of Montenegro and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with financial support from the European Union. The dialogue brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, business and academic communities, and civil society from the region and Europe.
Data presented at the event show that women make up almost two-thirds of the inactive and unemployed working-age population of the region, while every third business run by a woman sees difficult access to finance as an obstacle.
Photo: Ministry of European Affairs
Initiating the dialogue, Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević said that the goal is not only formal compliance with European standards in the field of gender equality, but also for Montenegro to become a leader in the region in how these standards are applied:
"Women in Montenegro and the region are already showing leadership in institutions, the economy and society. It is up to us to ensure that the system finally catches up with that potential. If we want to accelerate the path towards the EU, then we must be ready to accelerate the change in power relations in our society," said Gorčević.
UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro Ekaterina Paniklova emphasized that joint action is aimed at removing obstacles that limit women's participation in the economy:
"Our shared focus is on practical solutions - improving access to finance, strengthening childcare services, and creating opportunities in the digital and green sectors. Women still make up almost two-thirds of the inactive and unemployed working-age population, and increasing their participation is a direct way to strengthen the economy and achieve concrete results for citizens and businesses," said Paniklova.
Deputy Head of the Cooperation Sector of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, Liselotte Isakson, assessed that the European Union, through its policies, continues to strengthen the response to challenges in the field of gender equality:
"The new EU Gender Equality Strategy is a response to the growing global resistance to this issue and confirms that the European Union is not giving up, but is further strengthening its action in promoting women's rights and gender equality," said Isakson.
The introductory panel dedicated to economic growth and reforms highlighted that political leadership has a key responsibility to ensure the equal participation of women as decision-makers and economic actors, in line with reforms within the framework of the European Union accession process and the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.
On this occasion, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, Neva Grašič, said:
"Slovenia has shown that even a small country can have a strong impact when it consistently builds women's leadership, alliances and common platforms, and when it actively engages in the promotion of gender equality values and policies at the European and global levels."
Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro Branimir Jukić said: "Increased participation of women has been one of the key drivers of social progress and development. Further economic growth and overall progress depend on the other half of society being fully involved in development processes."
During the panel dedicated to the economy, competitiveness and the labor market, it was assessed that gender equality is not only a human rights issue, but also an issue of economic development.
Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue Naida Nišić stated:
"The new Labor Law and the reform processes we are implementing are aimed at creating a labor market that promotes women's economic independence, equal opportunities for advancement, and dignified work. Our priority is to make gender equality standards the rule, not the exception, in the Montenegrin economy."
Danijela Gačević, Head of the Program Department of the Regional Cooperation Council, emphasized that unlocking the potential of women's entrepreneurship is not only a matter of equality, but also of economic logic:
"If strategically developed at the regional level, women's entrepreneurship can become a powerful driver of growth, resilience and regional connectivity."
Panelists also pointed out that women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid household work, which affects their economic activity, advancement, and access to leadership positions.
The panel on system reform and equal opportunities concluded that education, employment and skills development policies must respond to the needs of the modern labor market and enable women to have equal access to new economic opportunities, especially in the areas of digitalization, innovation and green transition.
Only 31 percent of citizens in the region say they would encourage a female family member to pursue a career in STEM fields, while every third respondent believes that women in these fields advance more slowly and have lower incomes.
Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Gjeka said that without strong institutional mechanisms, there can be no lasting change:
"If we want gender equality to become a reality in the labor market, a new law, gendering of legislation, and stronger mechanisms are the foundation for that change," said Gjeka.
At the final panel of the first day, dedicated to female entrepreneurship, participants discussed obstacles and opportunities for the development of women-led businesses, including access to finance, markets, and innovation ecosystems.
The regional dialogue continues tomorrow with discussions on institutional accountability, regional alliances, and intergenerational leadership, with the message that sustainable change requires joint action by institutions, the economy, and society as a whole.
The dialogue is organized as part of the regional program “EU4GenderEquality” funded by the European Commission and jointly implemented by UNDP and UN Women.
