PM Djukanovic: Europe is a worldview shared by every Montenegrin

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic held a reception on December 19 to honour the European Council decision of December 17 to grant Montenegro the candidate status for EU membership. This decision was a unanimous verification of the European Commission Recommendation of November 9. Montenegro is the first country in the Western Balkans to receive the candidate status in five years, only three years after signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.

PM Djukanovic said this was a great day for the country, its neighbours and partners, bearing in mind that the accession negotiations can realistically be expected to begin soon. He emphasised that this decision is significant not on its own merits, but as an important step into a new phase of reform and integration tasks.

The PM underlined that integration and overall social emancipation are two occurrences that normally take place simultaneously, as evidenced in many EU member-states, adding that they were both necessary and immeasurably beneficial.

He concluded that fundamental European values and high standards are becoming an everyday philosophy in Montenegro.

PM Djukanovic stated that Montenegro would have been more content had it received the negotiation date, stressing that the EU gave Montenegro seven tasks before reaching the decision on the start of negotiations, possibly as soon as autumn 2011. He added that the tasks were both realistically defined and realistically attainable, stressing that there were no serious discrepancies between the EU and Montenegro’s vision of what needs to be done. He concluded that Montenegro is both determined and ready to undertake the obligations arising from EU membership and to give a unique contribution to the EU as a global actor.

Furthermore, the PM remarked that it was upon the state to build institutions, rule of law, equal rights and easier access to technology, finance and most importantly knowledge as the main precondition for taking full advantage of the coming phases of integration. On the other hand, he noted that all actors – and not only the state – have to do their part of the job to contribute to integration and a better quality of life.

PM Djukanovic made final remarks on the nature of the idea of Europe as a great community of different yet related nations, cultures, systems and stages of development. He stated that the EU represents a symbolic view of the new vision of united Europe and achievements of the Western mind, inaugurated by the thinkers of the Enlightenment. He concluded that Europe represents a unique worldview that is at the same time a personal challenge and a duty to which every Montenegrin citizen should strive.

In the end, PM Djukanovic thanked the EU institutions and congratulated to Montenegro and its citizens on the achievements in the integration process.