EU's Barroso: Montenegro close to opening accession talks, work needs to be done in rule of law, fundamental rights

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Brussels, Belgium (21 March 2012) -- Montenegro has made extensive efforts to meet EU accession requirements and the European Council's decission to open the door towards the start of accession talks is an acknowledgement of the hard work, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso told the press conference after meeting with Prime Minister Igor Lukšić in Brussels late afternoon.

The European Commission's spring report on Montengro's progress in terms of rule of law and fundamental rights, Mr Barroso continued, will be crucial as it will serve as a basis for the European Council 's decission on opening accession talks with Montenegro in June.

In this regard, he encouraged PM Lukšić to continue accomplishing concrete results in key fields of rule of law and fundamental rights, but also in the fight against corruption and organised crime.

”In these fields there is still a significant work to be done which is first and foremost in your country's own interest“, President Barroso emphasised.

“Montenegro is in principle close to opening accession negotiations“, he remarked, expressing hope that with firm national consensus, political will and hard work in the coming months Montenegro will succeed to attain the objective.

”Success is indeed in your own hands“, Mr Barroso concluded.

PM Lukšić said on that occasion that he reassured President Barroso that EU integration remains “high priority“ for the Government.

Montenegro is now concentrating its efforts on building the negotiation structure which will respond properly to future negotiation challenges, stressing tha fact that Montenegro is the first country to involve NGO secor into the negotiation structure.

”We are committing efforts to all those 7 benchmarks but basicaly and primarily with regards to chapters 23 and 24“, PM Lukšić reiterated.

By the same token, Montenegro has launched discussion on constitutional amendments, it has been monitoring the implementation of anti-cooruption legislation and worked hard to advance its judiciary reform, PM Lukšić explained.