AGP Executive Report

Bilateral Tech & Science Ties: Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović is in Mongolia for a state visit (Sept. 8–10) to mark 20 years of diplomatic relations, with talks covering trade, investment, education, science, media, climate and environmental protection, plus a Joint Declaration and cooperation documents. Education Skills Alarm (PISA 2025): The OECD’s latest PISA results show a broad slide in reading and maths to record lows, with 1 in 5 students now low performers across science, maths and reading—raising fresh concerns about learning quality in the AI era. Child Safety Online: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse, with social platforms driving most cases and higher risks for mental harm. Adriatic Fisheries Science: The GFCM has launched a new technical unit in Split to strengthen scientific cooperation and sustainable fisheries management across Adriatic partners including Montenegro. Connectivity in the Western Balkans: 4iG Group and SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile plan to expand satellite-to-mobile connectivity in Hungary and the Western Balkans, aiming to improve coverage in hard-to-reach areas. Online Gambling Crackdown Gap: A Euromat-commissioned study estimates Europe’s illegal online gambling market hit €12B in 2025, including Serbia and Montenegro, driven by regulation friction and limited legal choice.

Education Watch: The OECD’s PISA 2025 results show a broad skills slump: average reading and maths performance hit the lowest levels since testing began, with one in five 15-year-olds now low performers across science, maths and reading—raising alarms about critical thinking in the AI age. Child Safety Online: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with Montenegro included among surveyed European countries. Science for Fisheries: The GFCM set up a new Adriatic Sea technical unit in Split to strengthen science-based cooperation and sustainable fisheries management across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro and Slovenia. Connectivity in the Region: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements for Starlink Mobile in Hungary and the Western Balkans, plus sovereign satellite communications support—aimed at improving coverage where terrestrial networks struggle. Diplomacy & Research Links: Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović is on a state visit to Mongolia for talks and new cooperation deals spanning trade, education, science and climate.

Education Crisis: The OECD’s PISA 2025 results show a broad, continued slide in core skills, with OECD averages hitting the lowest ever in reading and maths; reading fell 28 points since 2015 and maths 22, and one in five 15-year-olds is now a low performer across science, maths and reading. Montenegro Link: The OECD data also flags Montenegro among countries showing notable change between 2022 and 2025, putting local education outcomes in the spotlight. Digital Safety: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with social media platforms driving most cases. Science & Policy in the Region: The GFCM set up a new Adriatic Sea technical unit in Split to strengthen science-based, sustainable fisheries cooperation that includes Montenegro. Connectivity Tech: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile satellite-to-phone connectivity to Hungary and Albania, with Montenegro in the Western Balkans rollout plan. Diplomacy & Research Ties: Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović is on a state visit to Mongolia for talks and new cooperation agreements spanning trade, education, science and climate.

Adriatic Fisheries Science: The UN’s GFCM, hosted in Split, launched a new Adriatic Sea technical unit to boost science-based, sustainable fishing cooperation among Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Education Tech & Skills: New OECD PISA 2025 results show a broad slide in reading, maths, and science skills worldwide, with “hasty readers” rising and declines linked to the AI-era need for critical thinking. Montenegro in the Data: Montenegro is named among countries showing big improvement in PISA 2025 versus 2022, even as the global trend worsens. Digital Safety: UNICEF reports about 20 million children (12–17) across 21 countries experienced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse, with Montenegro included in the study sample. Connectivity in the Western Balkans: 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile satellite-to-phone connectivity to Hungary and Albania, aiming to strengthen coverage in hard-to-reach areas. Bilateral Science Links: Montenegro’s president is on a state visit to Mongolia, with talks covering trade, education, science, and climate cooperation.

Education & AI-era literacy: OECD’s PISA 2025 shows a continued slide in reading, maths and science, with 15-year-olds hitting the weakest levels since testing began and “hasty readers” rising sharply—an alarm for critical thinking in a world flooded with information. UNICEF child safety online: UNICEF estimates 20 million children (12–17) across 21 countries faced tech-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse; nearly 60% of recorded cases were on social media, and Montenegro is flagged for social-media-heavy reporting. Montenegro–Mongolia ties: President Jakov Milatović’s state visit to Mongolia (marking 20 years of diplomatic relations) includes talks and a Joint Declaration covering trade, education, science, culture and climate cooperation. Satellite connectivity for the Western Balkans: 4iG and SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile deal aims to expand direct-to-phone satellite coverage in Hungary and the Western Balkans, with rollout tied to network readiness. Illegal gambling pressure: A Euromat-commissioned study says Europe’s illegal online gambling market tripled to about €12B in 2025, with Montenegro and Serbia included in the analysis. Tech policy & governance: Montenegro appears in OECD’s list of countries with big PISA shifts, while UNICEF’s findings underline the need for stronger platform protections and reporting pathways.

Education & Skills: PISA 2025 shows a sharp drop across OECD reading and math, with reading down 28 points since 2015 and more “hasty readers” who rush through texts and miss key meaning. Montenegro Diplomacy & Science Links: President Jakov Milatović is in Mongolia for a state visit marking 20 years of ties, with talks on trade, investment, education, science, climate and environmental protection, plus a Joint Declaration and cooperation documents. Child Safety Online: UNICEF reports about 20 million children (ages 12–17) across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of cases tied to social media. Connectivity Tech: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile to Hungary and Albania and expand sovereign satellite communications capabilities in Europe. Work & Productivity: An ILO comparison highlights labor productivity as a Western Balkan challenge, placing Montenegro highest in the region and Albania lowest.

Digital Safety Crisis: UNICEF estimates 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries suffered technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a single year, with nearly 60% of recorded cases happening on social media and Montenegro seeing over 80% of reported cases tied to those platforms. Connectivity & Space Tech: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile to Hungary and the Western Balkans, plus “Sovereign Solutions” for secure, national satellite communications capacity. Regional Science & Environment: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based, sustainable fisheries management across shared waters. Montenegro Diplomacy: President Jakov Milatović will visit Mongolia (Sept. 8–10) for talks on trade, investment, education, science, climate, and environmental cooperation. Research & Health: A study reports microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing molecules reduced hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by about 67% in mice. Work & Productivity: ILO data highlights labor productivity gaps across the Western Balkans, with Montenegro leading in the latest comparable figures.

Digital Safety Crisis: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of recorded cases happening on social media and underreporting leaving fewer than 1% reaching authorities. Satellite Connectivity for the Balkans: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements to launch Starlink Mobile in Hungary and Albania, plus a “Sovereign Solutions” track for secure, national-level satellite communications. Montenegro Diplomacy & Science Links: President Jakov Milatović will visit Mongolia (Sept 8–10) for talks on trade, investment, education, science, tourism, and climate/environment cooperation. Marine Science in the Region: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries science unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based fisheries management across shared waters. Local Tech Policy Watch: A study warns fake Webometrics university rankings are targeting Global South institutions, using tactics that can hide scams from European academia.

UNICEF Child Safety: UNICEF says about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of recorded cases happening on mainstream social media and Montenegro seeing over 80% of reported cases tied to social platforms. Montenegro Diplomacy: President Jakov Milatović will visit Mongolia from Sept. 8–10, the first state-level visit by a Montenegrin head of state there, with talks expected to cover trade, investment, education, science, tourism, and climate/environment cooperation. Health Tech Research: NTU Singapore researchers report microscopic peptide droplets carrying gene-silencing molecules that reduced hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by about 67% in mice, pointing to a potentially lower-cost siRNA approach. Space & Telecom in the Region: 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile connectivity to Hungary and the Western Balkans and to develop “Sovereign Solutions” for independent satellite communications. Marine Science: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based fisheries management across Adriatic countries.

Digital Safety Watch: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation in a year, with nearly 60% of cases happening on social media and less than 1% reaching authorities; Montenegro is flagged for over 80% of reported cases involving social platforms. Space & Telecom: Hungary’s 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements for Starlink Mobile across Hungary and the Western Balkans plus “Sovereign Solutions” for independent satellite communications. Energy & Tech Policy: 4iG also targets regional energy investment, including a letter of intent with X-Energy to explore deploying Xe-100 SMR nuclear tech in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. Science & Health: NTU researchers report microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing molecules that cut hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by about 67% in mice. Local Environment: Montenegro is mentioned in a wider context of biodiversity risks from greenlighting solar plants. Diplomacy: Montenegro President Jakov Milatović will visit Mongolia (Sept 8–10) to expand cooperation including science and education.

Digital Safety in Montenegro: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of cases happening on mainstream social media; in Montenegro, over 80% of reported cases involved social platforms, while fewer than 1% reached authorities. Space & Connectivity in the Western Balkans: 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements for Starlink Mobile and “Sovereign Solutions,” aiming to strengthen mobile satellite connectivity in Hungary and the Western Balkans and build more independent satellite communications. Health Tech Research: NTU Singapore researchers report microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing siRNA that cut hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by ~67% in mice, pointing to cheaper alternatives to some antibody therapies. Science-Based Fisheries: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split under FAO’s GFCM to boost regional, science-led fisheries management. Energy & Industry: Hungary’s 4iG targets regional energy expansion in CEE and the Western Balkans, including a letter of intent with X-Energy on deploying Xe-100 SMR nuclear tech.

Aviation Privatization Watch: Portugal has opened a fresh negotiation round for Air France-KLM and Lufthansa as it tries to secure better final bids for up to 44.9% of TAP, after both July offers were judged too close to call. Digital Safety & Kids Online: UNICEF reports about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation in a year; nearly 60% of cases involved social media, and in Montenegro, over 80% of reported cases were on social platforms. Space-Linked Connectivity: Hungary’s 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile to Hungary and the Western Balkans and to develop “Sovereign Solutions” for secure national satellite communications. Energy & Nuclear Ambitions: 4iG also plans a regional energy portfolio in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans, including a letter of intent with X-Energy to explore Xe-100 small modular nuclear reactor deployment. Marine Science: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based, sustainable fisheries management across shared waters. Health Tech Research: NTU Singapore researchers report microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing molecules that cut hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by ~67% in mice.

Digital Safety Shock: UNICEF says about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of recorded cases on mainstream social media and less than 1% reaching authorities. Montenegro Angle: In Montenegro, over 80% of reported cases involved social media platforms, underscoring the need for safer design and stronger enforcement. Space & Telecom in the Balkans: Hungary’s 4iG and SpaceX signed agreements to bring Starlink Mobile connectivity and develop “Sovereign Solutions” for more secure, independent satellite communications across Hungary and the Western Balkans. Marine Science: A new Adriatic Sea fisheries unit was inaugurated in Split to strengthen science-based, sustainable fisheries management across shared waters. Health Research: NTU researchers report microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing molecules that cut hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by about 67% in mice.

Digital Safety Watch: UNICEF reports about 20 million children (ages 12–17) in 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation in a year, with nearly 60% of cases happening on social media and less than 1% reaching authorities; Montenegro is highlighted, where over 80% of reported cases involved social platforms. Health & Biotech: NTU Singapore researchers say microscopic peptide droplets delivering gene-silencing molecules cut hard-to-treat colorectal tumor growth by ~67% in mice, using siRNA to disrupt immune-evasion targets. Connectivity & Space Tech: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed agreements for Starlink Mobile in Hungary and the Western Balkans plus “Sovereign Solutions” for secure, independent satellite communications. Local Tech Policy: Montenegro’s solar expansion faces scrutiny as authorities question biodiversity impacts in protected areas, with EIA approvals challenged over gaps in assessing harm to wildlife.

Digital Safety Crisis: UNICEF reports about 20 million children (ages 12–17) across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of cases happening on mainstream social media and less than 1% reported to authorities. Health Tech Research: NTU Singapore researchers say microscopic peptide droplets carrying gene-silencing molecules cut colorectal tumor growth by ~67% in mice, using siRNA to disrupt immune-evasion signals. Connectivity & Satellites: Hungary and the Western Balkans get a boost as 4iG and SpaceX sign deals for Starlink Mobile and “Sovereign Solutions” for more secure, independent satellite communications. Montenegro/UN Cooperation: Montenegro’s officials met UN leadership on European integration, sustainable development, and digital transformation, including cooperation on AI and public-service modernization. Local Environment Watch: Montenegro’s solar expansion faces scrutiny after an EIA was rejected over biodiversity impacts in a protected river nature park.

Digital Safety Crisis: UNICEF estimates about 20 million children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with nearly 60% of incidents happening on social media and underreporting a major concern (less than 1% reported to police/helplines; over 4 in 10 told no one). Montenegro Tech & UN Cooperation: Montenegrin officials met the UN Resident Coordinator to align on European integration, sustainable development, and digital transformation, with artificial intelligence and modernization of public services highlighted. Connectivity in the Western Balkans: 4iG Group and SpaceX signed deals to bring Starlink Mobile direct-to-device connectivity to Hungary and the Western Balkans, alongside work on sovereign satellite communications via Sovereign Solutions. Local Energy & Biodiversity: Montenegro’s authorities approved solar plants despite warnings of biodiversity damage, after environmental review concerns were raised. Research Spotlight: A new study on ulcerative colitis uses integrative machine learning with single-cell RNA sequencing to identify Timp1+ stromal cells as key drivers.