FM Bildt: Sweden strongly supports Western Balkan accession to EU, more should have been done over past 10 years

Podgorica, Montenegro (5 March 2013) -- Sweden is one of the strongest advocates of the Western Balkan's accession to the EU. However, when the Declaration from the EU - Western Balkans Summit held in Thessaloniki ten years ago is taken into account, more should have been done, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told the press following his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić in Stockholm earlier today.

Montenegro's negotiation talks are being focused on the chapters 23 and 24, FM Bildth said.

“That's got to be the foundation of the rest of it – the work on some of the critical issues, organised criminality, economic development, all of those issues that are very important for the entire region,“ the Swedish Foreign Minister stressed.

He also underlined the very good bilateral ties established between Sweden and Montenegro, pointing out that the increasing number of Swedes realise the “immense touristic potential of Montenegro“.