Dutch Government supports Montenegro's EU bid

Amsterdam, The Netherlands (30 November 2011) -- The results Montenegro has been achieved in meeting the European Commission's recommendations, in particular regarding judiciary reform and fight against corruption and organised crime, are significant and lauable, but more convincing achievements are still nedded,  Dutch Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten told his Montenegrin counterpart Duško Marković at their meeting earlier today.

In the context of the forthcoming European Council meeting in December, Minister Opstelten underlined that the Dutch Government supports Montenegro on its European integration path, adding however that the final decision on the opening of EU accession talks depends largely on the Dutch Parliament's position. He announced that the issue will be discussed by the Dutch legislature later today, as well as at its plenary session of 7 December.

DPM Marković noted that Montenegro has made substantional progress, adding that the Government will continue to pursue the reforms regardless of the outcome of the December's meeting.