Sweden continues to promote Montenegro and Western Balkans EU accession, Minister for EU Affairs says

Podgorica, Montenegro (4 October 2012) – The Kingdom of Sweden will continue to promote EU enlargement policy when it comes to Montenegro and the region of the Western Balkans as well, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs Birgitta Ohlsson said at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković in Podgorica earlier today. Montenegro deserved the opening of EU accession negotiation, and it also stimulated other states of the region to move towards achieving progress in its European and Euro-Atlantic integration process, she pointed out.

Expressing satisfaction with the first official visit of a Swedish Minister to Montenegro, DPM Marković informed Minister Ohlsson about Montenegro’s key national and foreign priorities and the results achieved in strengthening the rule of law and combating organised crime and corruption.

Concerning the fight against discrimination and promotion of human rights, the two officials agreed that Montenegro has been a pioneer in the region in some initiatives, such as the decriminalisation of media defamation, the advancement of LGBT rights and the organisation of the first conference on LGBT rights in the region. In that regard, DPM Marković briefed the Swedish Minister about the work of the Council for Protection against Discrimination, as well as the working groups involving the representatives of the NGOs dealing with human rights, on finding adequate solutions in anti-discrimination policy, gender equality and fight against homophobia.

Both sides agreed that it is crucial to find and promote some lasting and sustainable systematic solutions which will no doubt bring results, and that Montenegro, in that regard, has already made great progress.