Romania fully supports Montenegro's EU, NATO bid, Prime Minister Victor Ponta says

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Bucharest, Romania (27 November 2013) -- Romania fully supports Montenegero’s EU and NATO aspirations and is willing to share its good and bad experience and expertise during the accession talks, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta told the press following his meeting with his Montenegrin counterpart Milo Đukanović in Bucharest.

Montenegro’s membership in NATO would be significant for preserving peace and stability in the region, and its integration into the EU is a very strong message to entire Europe, Prime Minister Ponta emphasised.

He thanked once again Montenegro’s citizens and public institutions for remarkable engagement in alleviating consequences of a tragic bus accident, which took place in northern Montenegro this summer, when 18 Romanian tourists lost their lives. 

Prime Minister Milo Đukanović noted Romania did its best in hosting the China-Central and Eastern Europe government leaders meeting in Bucharest, which can be essential for further development of the Western Balkans.

Strengthening stability and boosting economic and democratic development are key priorities for the region, and these goals can be achieved through European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Montenegro’s Prime Minister underscored. In that regard, he stated it is important that Romania backs up that perspective and strongly supports Montenegro and the Western Balkans’ accession into the EU and NATO.

In terms of boosting economic ties, the two officials voiced confidence the economc cooperation agreement, which has been signed today in Bucharest, as well as the announced Montenegro-Romania business forum scheduled for next year, will result in advancing foreign trade and overall economic cooperation between the two countries.