Montenegro's agriculture enters more demanding negotiation phase, EU's Dirk Lange says

Kolašin, Montenegro (11 February 2014) -- Montenegro’s accession to the EU is entering a phase where the focus shifts from the rule of law, treated as a top priority at this point in time, to the issues such as agriculture, food safety and consumer protection, Dirk Lange, Head of the Montenegro Unit at the European Commission's Enlargement Directorate, and Mitja Drobnič, Head of EU Delegation to Montenegro, noted following their visit to several agricultural manufacturers in Montenegro.

Montenegro's agriculture has entered a more demanding negotiation phase, which requires more quickly adoption of standards and boosting farmers' competitiveness  in order to increse chances of selling their products on European market. High product quality and compliance with food safety standards are the minimum requirements to be met, Mr. Lange pointed out.

After their visit to Kolašin, the two EU representatives and Montenegro’s Agriculture Minister Petar Ivanović visited a number of agricultural producers and in the north of Montenegro, as well as the company "Plantaže 13 jul", Montenegro’s top exporter.

Mr Lange said that farms in Montenegro are small and they hardly use modern technology, which certainly causes an increase in the cost of production. Therefore they require structural changes, he explained.

Period of intensive cooperation between the EU and Montenegro's Agriculture Ministry is ahead, he added, particularly referring to meeting conditions for opening negotiations on chapters 11, 12 and 13.

This will be an interesting period for Montenegro as it can emphasise its specific aims in terms of meeting standards and seeking a transitional period for those areas which require more time to meet the standard of living, Mr Lange noted.

Mitja Drobnič, Head of EU Delegation to Montenegro, said that Mr Lange’s visit to Montenegro is not devoted only to the negotiating chapters 23 and 24, but also to analysing potential and obstacles in the Montenegrin agriculture.

"I think we got interesting information that will help us analyse the situation and provide assistance to the state in order to better prepare for negotiations in this area," he concluded.