Enlargement Commissioner Fule: Montenegro very important country for enlargement policy

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European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule firmly stated after his meeting with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Igor Luksic that “there is no enlargement fatigue,” especially when “there is clear determination and hard work on the side of the aspirant countries and the candidate countries.”

Commissioner Fule underlined that 2011 should be a year when “a new momentum in enlargement is reached. Montenegro is a very important country, it is playing a very important role in ensuring that we indeed reach this new momentum,” said Commissioner Fule.

He commended the cooperation with Montenegrin Government, adding that the discussion with PM Luksic “has proven that determination and ambitions are there,” stressing that the Commission “will provide as much help as we can to assist Montenegro,” and in particular to meet the seven EC priorities.

Being asked whether new tasks will be given to Montenegro, Commissioner Fule said that “We do not change the rules of the game during the game,” adding that he was glad to meet with opposition leaders and to “see their determination to work constructively with the Government and other stakeholders to fulfil those seven key priorities.” He pledged that no new tasks will be given as well as that all countries “will be judged based on their own merits.”

PM Igor Luksic said that the talk with Commissioner Fule was a “continuation of efforts to maintain our understanding” in this important period with a view to “respond in the best way possible to the seven criteria set by the EC for the opening of accession negotiations.”

PM Luksic informed Commissioner Fule of the new legislation adopted in Montenegro, and in particular the human rights protector law and the law on de-criminalisation of defamation, that in his view will play an important role in Montenegro’s further progress towards the EU. He reiterated that Montenegro enjoys full consensus on the “European agenda” and is putting all efforts into proving that the enlargement process is both good and necessary for the EU.

For the video of the joint press conference please click on the video link above.