At an OSCE meeting in Vienna on Oct. 29, Ambassador Neil Holland said the United Kingdom would strongly back the Berlin Process, citing its progress on regional integration, resilience and reconciliation.
In the speech, Holland congratulated Montenegro on a successful summit and praised its leadership during the past year. He said the process's work can benefit the Western Balkans and Europe more broadly, while separately linking stronger institutions with resilience.
Holland framed security as a regional concern, saying threats in Europe cross national borders. He argued that responses must also address efforts by hostile actors to exploit social divisions and weaknesses in institutions, making a security-only approach insufficient.
He connected stronger institutions with resilience, and said closer economic ties and alignment with European standards can widen opportunity and support prosperity. In his remarks, these economic aims sat alongside the process's security and social concerns.
Holland also called for serious action on gender equality and violence against women and girls. He said strong societies should provide both security and opportunity to everyone.
He characterized reconciliation as difficult work that can restore trust and strengthen social cohesion. The speech presented these priorities as interdependent, with none able to succeed on its own.
Holland said the UK would continue to support the Berlin Process while it delivers practical advances in cooperation and resilience.
