France to support Montenegro’s new phase of EU accession through specific cooperation programmes

Podgorica, Montenegro (6 November 2013) -- Sustained French support for Montenegro’s new phase of EU accession talks will be further strengthened through specific institutional cooperation programmes, the meeting between Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Duško Marković and newly appointed French Ambassador Véronique Brumeaux agreed in Podgorica earlier today.

Ambassador Brumeaux welcomed Montenegro’s progress made towards fulfilling its foreign policy goals and reiterated France's expectations when it comes to the implementation of Montenegro’s commitments in terms of strengthening its institutional and legal framework in line with modern standards. In that regard, she emphasised the importance of the recently signed cooperation agreement between the two justice ministries in Paris, which is a solid platform for the exchange of experience and expertise in the field of rule of law and judicial reforms as key prerequisites of progress in meeting requirements from the action plans for the negotiating chapters 23 and 24.

DPM Marković informed the French Ambassador about current activities related to the implementation of the Law on Public Prosecution, the Law on Courts, the Law on the Judicial Council and the Law on the Constitutional Court, as well as the activities towards the rationalisation of courts network aimed at strengthening professionalism, accountability, reliability and efficiency of the Montenegrin judicial system as a whole.

Ambassador Brumeaux thanked Montenegro for its clear messages of support for France’s activities within the NATO, showing that Montenegro is not only interested in fostering the values the alliance is based on, but also in sharing responsibility as an equal member.

Both sides commended an increasing presence of France in the Western Balkans through concrete programmes and projects of cooperation in all fields of mutual interest.