UK’s Europe Minister Lidington commends Montenegro’s reforms, supports EU enlargement, NATO open door policy

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Podgorica, Montenegro (8 June 2011) – Justice, finance and foreign affairs ministers spoke today with UK’s Minister for Europe David Lidington about Montenegro’s seven key EC recommendations for opening the accession talks. At the press statements afterwards, Minister Roćen said that Montenegro needs to continue fulfilling its EU tasks and that it may count on UK’s support for both the EU enlargement policy and NATO’s open-door policy.

Mr Lidington, who is the first UK minister to visit Montenegro since it restored independence in 2006, said the UK government has a clear policy regarding the EU enlargement: “If a country is European and it wants to join the EU, than it should be entitled to do so, provided of course that it meets in full the requirements for EU accession.”

The decision to grant candidate status was “a fair recognition of the enormous progress Montenegro has already made in its reform programme,” said Minister Livington. He said he assured Montenegrin ministers of “UK’s strong and continuing support for the reform programme and for their ambitions to become full members of both the EU and NATO,” and that “there are no arbitrary deadlines or timescales,” but that it is only necessary to bring about the reforms and changes that are “in the best interest of all European citizens.”

He added that one of the most important accession requirements is the rule of law and that the UK “welcome Minister Marković’s work in that regard” pledging at the same time the UK’s assistance in the area of rule of law, fight against corruption and judicial independence.

Minister Roćen recommended that a business forum including British investors be organised in Montenegro. Minister Livington said that he believes many British investors will be interested, adding that the UK government will provide all the necessary assistance to Montenegro’s reform in this area which would fully prepare it for free market.

He concluded by saying that UK believes Montenegro’s place is in NATO, adding that the UK recognises Montenegro’s role in regional stability and reconciliation, and also commends its role in ISAF mission in Afghanistan, which shows commitment to global peace and security.