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European Council awards EU candidate status to Mon...
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European Council awards EU candidate status to Montenegro
Published on: Dec 17, 2010 • 8:04 PM Author: PR Bureau - Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic presents Montenegro's EU application to French President Nicolas Sarkozy /15/12/2008/
The European Council has formally awarded the status of an EU candidate country to Montenegro, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy told a press conference in Brussels.
The decision came after the European Commission’s positive Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application on November 9.
Commenting on the news, Foreign Minister Milan Rocen said: “This is a great success and a big day for our small country. This is credit to the Executive, the Parliament, the government and the opposition, the civil society and, above all, to the people of Montenegro, who see their future inside the European Union,” said Rocen.
He went on to say that the move is not only an encouragement to Montenegro but to the region as a whole.
The Foreign Minister underlined that Montenegro has cause to celebrate, but it doesn’t have much time to do so.
“The candidate status is only a qualifier for the European race. The launch of EU accession talks will mark the start of the race. We need to work round the clock and mobilize the entire Montenegrin intelligentsia for the European front,” said Rocen.
Montenegro’s EU integration milestones:
- 21 May 2006 – The Montenegrin independence referendum takes place – 55.5% of votes cast in favour of independence.
- 15 October 2007 – The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) signed in Luxembourg.
- 1 November 2007 – The European Commission Delegation in Podgorica starts to function.
- 14 November 2007 – The Parliament of Montenegro ratifies the SAA, the Interim Agreement and Agreements on Visa Facilitation and Readmission.
- 1 January 2008 – Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related Issues and Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements enter into force.
- 15 December 2008 – Montenegro submits its application for EU membership.
- 23 April 2009 – The Council invites the Commission to submit its opinion on Montenegro's application.
- 22 July 2009, Podgorica – The EC delivers the Questionnaire to the Government of Montenegro. Montenegro submits its answers and additional answers to the Questionnaire on 9 December 2009 and 12 April 2010. The answers are available on the web page: www.questionnaire.gov.me
- 30 November 2009 – The EU Council grants visa-free travel for Montenegrin citizens.
- 1 May 2010 – The Stabilisation and Association Agreement enters into force, after being ratified by all 27 Member States
- 9 November 2010 – EC presents positive Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application
The decision came after the European Commission’s positive Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application on November 9.
Commenting on the news, Foreign Minister Milan Rocen said: “This is a great success and a big day for our small country. This is credit to the Executive, the Parliament, the government and the opposition, the civil society and, above all, to the people of Montenegro, who see their future inside the European Union,” said Rocen.
He went on to say that the move is not only an encouragement to Montenegro but to the region as a whole.
The Foreign Minister underlined that Montenegro has cause to celebrate, but it doesn’t have much time to do so.
“The candidate status is only a qualifier for the European race. The launch of EU accession talks will mark the start of the race. We need to work round the clock and mobilize the entire Montenegrin intelligentsia for the European front,” said Rocen.
Montenegro’s EU integration milestones:
- 21 May 2006 – The Montenegrin independence referendum takes place – 55.5% of votes cast in favour of independence.
- 15 October 2007 – The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) signed in Luxembourg.
- 1 November 2007 – The European Commission Delegation in Podgorica starts to function.
- 14 November 2007 – The Parliament of Montenegro ratifies the SAA, the Interim Agreement and Agreements on Visa Facilitation and Readmission.
- 1 January 2008 – Interim Agreement on Trade and Trade-related Issues and Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements enter into force.
- 15 December 2008 – Montenegro submits its application for EU membership.
- 23 April 2009 – The Council invites the Commission to submit its opinion on Montenegro's application.
- 22 July 2009, Podgorica – The EC delivers the Questionnaire to the Government of Montenegro. Montenegro submits its answers and additional answers to the Questionnaire on 9 December 2009 and 12 April 2010. The answers are available on the web page: www.questionnaire.gov.me
- 30 November 2009 – The EU Council grants visa-free travel for Montenegrin citizens.
- 1 May 2010 – The Stabilisation and Association Agreement enters into force, after being ratified by all 27 Member States
- 9 November 2010 – EC presents positive Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application
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