Cyprus to share EU integration experience with Montenegro: Small countries take less time to meet certain EU criteria

Podgorica, Montenegro (12 July 2012) – Prime Minister Igor Lukšić hosted today Ms Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, the foreign minister of Cyprus, the country currently presiding the EU. The two officials agreed that small countries in Europe have an advantage that certain processes in the EU integration take less time than for larger states. Ms Marcoullis underlined that EU enlargement towards the Western Balkans will be among the top priorities of the Cypriot presidency and she offered her country’s support in pursuing the EU benchmarks.

Mr Lukšić and Ms Marcoullis agreed that the two countries should upgrade their bilateral ties, and the Cypriot minister underlined her country’s willingness to share the good practices from its EU accession experience.

Montenegro’s Prime Minister underlined the importance of Cyprus’s continued support to Montenegro’s EU aspirations and underlined that the European Council’s decision to start the accession negotiations on 29 June has proven that the EU recognises the efforts Montenegro is making towards full membership, despite the challenges that lay ahead.

Prime Minister Lukšić underscored that Montenegro follows a clear path of integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures and achieving economic revival and growth.