Continued reform to ensure France's support to Montenegro's EU bid

Paris, France (28 October 2011) – France will support Montenegro’s accession to the EU and pledge full support to the opening of entry talks, if Montenegro continues pursuing the ongoing reforms in order to meet the seven key criteria from the European Commission’s opinion, French Foreign Minister Alan Juppe told his Montenegrin counterpart Milan Roćen during their meeting on Thursday, 27 October.

The French head of diplomacy commended Montenegro’s international endevours, particularly its role in the ISAF mission in Afganistan and support for the transition process in Libia. He also welcomed the country’s progress within the NATO Membership Action Plan.

Foreign Minister Roćen thanked France for the overall assistance and support, reminiding of the fact that Montenegro submitted its EU membership application during the French presidency three years ago, which contributed greatly to the success of its EU bid.

Montenegro’s commitment to implementing European standards and building a modern European state, Minister Roćen remarked, reflects a strong political and social consensus when it comes to European integration, stressing the importance of regional stability and the neighbouring countries’ progress in meeting common strategic goals.