EU Commissioner Füle positive Montenegro will become ‘example to follow’ in region

• EU Commissioner Füle praises Montenegro’s enthusiasm, capacity and energy to meet its EU commitments, positive about good progress

• PM Lukšić confident that Montenegro’s track record of reform will induce Commission to recommend opening of EU accession talks this fall

Budva, Montenegro (27 May 2011) -- Montenegrin government and civil society representatives met with EU officials in Budva earlier today, for talks on Montenegro’s progress in meeting the European Commission’s recommendations for the opening of EU accession talks.

The conference, entitled “Montenegro - EU Dialogue /Implementation of European Commission Recommendations/”, featured keynote addresses by Prime Minister Igor Lukšić and EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle.

PM Lukšić voiced confidence that the Montenegrin society has enough enthusiasm, capacity and energy to meet its EU commitments and that Montenegro’s track record of reform will induce the Commission to recommend the opening of EU accession talks this fall.

EU Commissioner Štefan Füle praised Montenegro’s constructive, open and inclusive approach, the energy of its people, and the solid political consensus on EU integration. He remarked that there is still significant work ahead, adding however that he is positive the country will make good progress along its European path and become an example to follow in the region.

“I’m positively impressed by the increasingly high commitment and efforts of the Government and the Parliament to address the shortcomings identified in the European Commission’s Opinion,” said the Commissioner.

The Prime Minister, on the other hand, noted that Montenegro has set ambitious, yet realistic, reform targets for the key priority areas identified in the European Commission’s Opinion on Montenegro’s EU membership application.

“We still have plenty of work to do, but I do believe we have entered the stage when there is no longer any doubt that things are moving in a positive direction and that all our efforts at meeting EU commitments are in line with European standards and practices,” said the PM.

He also underlined the importance of Montenegro’s domestic dialogue on EU integration and the contribution of all social stakeholders, as a way of overcoming the challenges concerning Montenegro’s administrative capacities.

Commissioner Füle stressed that the future of Montenegro lies in its own hands and expressed the Commission’s readiness to support the country in every stage of the enlargement process.

He concluded by saying: “I’m positive that Montenegro, with its constructive, open and inclusive approach, but most importantly with the energy of its people, and the solid political consensus which already exists, will make good progress along its European path and become an example to follow in the region.”