EU's Cas Granje: Encouragement for further Montenegro's reform process

Podgorica, Montenegro (23 July 2013) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Igor Lukšić hosted Monday Alexandra Cas Granje, Director for Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia, Turkey and Iceland at the Directorate General for Enlargement, for talks on overall economic and political situation in Montenegro, particularly focusing on Montenegro’ EU bid.

Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić said the Government priorities remain the process of integration into the EU and NATO, as well as providing long-term economic growth. He acquainted the EU official with the activities being carried out in meeting the EU agenda. He added that by competing the negotiation structure, temporary opening and closing of two chapters, completing the screening process and adopting the action plans for chapters 23 and 24, Montenegro has met the planned schedule for this phase of the negotiation process. Concrete results in terms of the obligations of the Assembly regarding the constitutional reform, electoral law and current parliamentary inquiry will further contribute to the fulfillment of requirements for opening the most sensitive chapters.

Director Cas Granje welcomed the adoption of action plans on negotiating chapters 23 and 24, and encouraged further efforts towards the opening of these two chapters.