Đukanović – Ashton: Neighbouring countries could learn from example of Montenegro

Podgorica, Montenegro (15 April 2013) – Prime Minister Milo Đukanović hosted this afternoon the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, who is in her first official visit to Montenegro.

The Prime Minister thanked for the EU’s continued support to Montenegro’s European path and informed his guest of the Government’s readiness to invest particular effort to help improve the quality of life of the citizens, which is closely intertwined with the country’s integration plans.

Mr Đukanović stressed that he is satisfied with Montenegro’s reform efforts and the pace of their implementation, noting that Montenegro restored independence just seven years ago.

He welcomed that earlier today Montenegro opened and temporarily closed Chapter 26 – Education and Culture, and underlined that Montenegro understands the growing demands of the accession negotiation process.

Prime Minister Đukanović noted that the Government is committed to the rule of law and is investing considerable effort, together with EU experts, in the preparation of the action plans for negotiation chapters 23 and 24, which will provide for the start of talks on these chapters, in accordance with the new negotiation approach. He added that Montenegro is very committed to regional stability and actively promotes European values in the Western Balkans.

In the context of the presidential elections, the Prime Minister underscored that Montenegro is a stable country, whose institutions are capable to resolve all issues.

Welcoming the opportunity to pay her first official visit to Montenegro and exchange opinions on regional matters with Prime Minister Đukanović, Baroness Ashton underlined that Montenegro proves that a country’s size does not determine its impact. She welcomed the fact that Montenegro has managed so quickly to open and temporarily close two chapters. She highlighted the importance of the fact that Montenegro understands all the priorities and is working devotedly on their implementation, and underlined that the EU member-states want to see Montenegro inside the Union.

She commended Montenegro’s contribution to the common foreign and security policy, which is the best indicator of Montenegro’s commitment to Europe’s collective action in global matters and noted that Montenegro’s contribution is welcome by both the EU and NATO.

The two officials agreed that European integration is the best guarantee for the region’s future, and noted that the road to membership is not easy, but is worthwhile. Baroness Ashton concluded that the neighbouring countries could learn from the example of Montenegro.