PM Đukanović: Civil society's role vital in Montenegro's journey towards EU membership

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Budva, Montenegro (22 November 2013) – “NGOs and civil society have contributed significantly to Montenegro's reform and democratisation... Montenegro is the first country to begin the EU accession talks with the opening of the Chapters 23 and 24, but also the first one to include civil society's representatives in its negotiating team”, Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Đukanović underscored at the opening of the Congress of European Movements and Civil Societies of South East Europe, which takes place in Budva on 21-23 November.

He particularly referred to the sector’s role within the project titled “National Convention on European integration of Montenegro”, which is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Slovakia. The project, being coordinated by the European Movement in Montenegro, gathers more than 200 social stakeholders with the aim of assisting Montenegro’ reform processes and its path towards the membership of the EU, PM Đukanović underlined.

International European Movement have been making an invaluable contribution to the building of a united Europe for nearly seven decades, PM Đukanović said. The movement insists on the principles of peace, freedom, democracy, solidarity and respect for fundamental human rights, and aims to advance participatory democracy with a view to achieving these objectives.

“We also know that great people, such as Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, Francois Mitterrand and others promoted the idea of a united Europe through the International European Movement, and we now enjoy the fruits of such a far-sighted policy", Montenegro’s Prime Minister highlighted in Budva.

The event is organised by the International European Movement and the European Movement in Montenegro, in partnership with the European Commission, the Government of Montenegro and the Municipality of Budva. The aim of the conference, which brings together prominent public and civil society's figures from Montenegro, the region and the EU, is to promote dialogue between civil society and public institutions in the EU candidate and potential candidate countries, and to contribute to regional development of the civil society.