NATO officials: Progress achieved in rule of law good recommendation for reaching decision on inviting Montenegro to join Alliance

Brussels, Belgium (28 October 2015) – Montenegro’s visible progress in the rule of law is a good recommendation for the decision on inviting the country to join the Alliance in December, top NATO officials stressed at the meeting with Interior Minister Raško Konjević, which took place in Brussels.

During his official visit to Brussels, Minister Konjević met with NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Terry Stamatopoulos, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges Sorin Dukaru.

The NATO officials commended Montenegro’s results and dynamics of overall reform process in pursuing NATO agenda. The officials pledged their full support to the continuation of the reform process, particularly emphasising the importance of the projects that have been already implemented and the Interior Ministry's actionsin emergency situations. NATO’s Science for Peace and Security programme has provided EUR 1.1 million for the implementation of the projects, the officials emphasised.

Minister Konjević thanked the officials for NATO’s continued support, voicing belief that the next NATO ministerial meeting in December will result in reaching consensus on inviting Montenegro to become a NATO member state.

Interior Minister Konjević also met with EU Director General for Justice and Home Affairs Christine Roger for talks on the implementation of the requirements from the European agenda.

Director General Roger commended the concrete results Montenegro has achieved in the fight against organised crime and corruption, as well as in public administration reform process and other areas within the Ministry of the Interior’s competence. Montenegro should continue its reform process in the area of justice, freedom and security which is crucial for the continuation of dynamic European integration process, she pointed out.