Berlin: Germany supports Montenegro’s further progress in EU and NATO integration

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić paid an official visit to Berlin, where he met, among others, with Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who commended Montenegro’s hitherto progress and voiced Germany’s support to Montenegro’s EU and NATO integration efforts.

In that context, it was noted that EU and NATO integration are two complementary and compatible processes which both require meeting a set of conditions and adopting various standards which will contribute to the overall modernisation and reform of the Montenegrin society and its institutions in the long term. In that context, DPM Lukšić noted in particular the positive effects of the new approach to accession negotiations, emphasising clearly the achieved results and the challenges that lie ahead. In their conversation, the two head diplomats discussed regional developments as well as international topics, especially Ukraine.

At his meeting with the Committee on European Union Affairs of the German Bundestag and its Chairman Gunther Krichbaum, Mr Lukšić elaborated in more detail what Montenegro has achieved in European integration thus far and presented the future plans in accession negotiations. In an open conversation with German MPs, Mr Lukšić discussed implemented measures in areas covered by Chapters 23 and 24 and underlined the importance in that respect of the new approach to accession talks. Mr Krichbaum reiterated Germany’s readiness to continue the cooperation and announced a possible visit of the committee members to Montenegro.

DPM Lukšić also met with the Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Defence Markus Grubel. He informed his interlocutor about the military and defence sector reforms, rule of law, and steps undertaken to increase the public support to Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic integration. Mr Lukšić thanked the Ministry and the Federal Government for excellent bilateral cooperation. Both sides welcomed the two countries’ cooperation in the ISAF Mission and noted their readiness to continue this cooperation in the future.

Minister Lukšić also spoke to Christoph Tiskens, Director for Southeast Europe and Turkey of the German development bank KfW, about joint implementation of concrete projects in the area of energy, energy efficiency, infrastructure, water management, and others.