BBC: MEPs call for EU membership talks with Montenegro

In November 2009 the European Commission said that the EU should grant candidate status to the ex-Yugoslav republic.

However British conservative Charles Tannock raised concerns over delays in moving to full negotiation talks.

He praised the "diligence" of the Montenegrin government in working to meet criteria for membership, and praised the country for eliminating ethnic and religious tensions.

He said that delays in opening membership talks could lead the Podgorica government to weaken its efforts - and said this may have a knock-on effect on future candidate countries such as Macedonia.

Montenegro emerged as a sovereign state after just over 55% of the population opted for independence in a May 2006 referendum.

At the end of the 2009, it came a step closer to EU membership, when its citizens were allowed visa-free travel to all Schengen area countries.

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle said the Montenegrin parliament needed strengthening, and that guarantees of freedom of expression needed to be improved - a call backed up by Eniko Gyori, on behalf of the Council of Ministers.