European Council's President welcomes Montenegro's EU track record, calls on PM Lukšić to intensify reforms

Brussels, Belgium (23 March 2012) – “Montenegro has become one of the champions of European integration in the Western Balkans,” President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy told the press after his meeting with Prime Minister Igor Lukšić in Brussels this afternoon.

The Council, President Rompuy noted, is to examine Montenegro’s track record in pursuing reforms with the aim of opening EU entry talks in June.

Particular attention, in his words, will be paid to the areas of judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security. In that regard, he called on PM Lukšić to carry on and intensify the necessary reforms regarding these challenging issues.

“A solid track record in implementing legislation and finalisation of the constitutional reform on judiciary would facilitate the actual opening of the accession negotiations in June,” Mr Rompuy stressed.

He added that Montenegro’s EU achievements can be a motivator for many of the Western Balkans countries, while also commending “the constructive role of Montenegro in regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations.”

Prime Minister Igor Lukšić reiterated Montenegro’s readiness to continue investing efforts in order to prepare itself for the start of the accession talks in June as it was envisage by the European Council in December.

He underlined the importance of these efforts for the region as a whole, as they “motivate and put certain positive pressure on other Western Balkans countries” regarding their EU perspective.

“We agreed that after a year and after our last meeting we can now talk about the significant progress of the region as a whole towards the reaching of European perspective for the countries of the Western Balkans,” the Prime Minister concluded following his meeting with the European Council's President in Brussels.