Poland committed to Western Balkan’s integration to EU, pledges support to Montenegro

Budva, Montenegro (6 May 2011) -- Poland takes over the European Union presidency on 1 July with the main objective of speeding up the enlargement process concerning the Western Balkans, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told the press after talks with Prime Minister Igor Lukšić last night, expressing hope for the launch of Montenegro’s EU accession talks in December.

“Europe is waiting for Montenegro because it needs it”, PM Tusk remarked, “just as it waited for Poland a few years ago”, underlining that Montenegro can count on the Poland’s assistance in the process.

Prime Minister Tusk praised in particular PM Lukšić’s role in Montenegro’s EU bid. "It is very important for you to have the European prime minister whose reputation has had a huge impact on the course of the European negotiations" he said.

Prime Minister Igor Lukšić reiterated Montenegro’s full commitment to meeting the seven criteria from the European Commission’s Opinion over the next months.

"I emphasised that I believe in the European future of the Western Balkans and the possibility of Montenegro to assist the European Commission in terms of providing recommendations to the European Council to initiate negotiations because I am sure we will, as we did in the past four months, voice our readiness to implement all the Action Plan’s provisions," PM Lukšić concluded after meeting his Polish counterpart in Budva.