Pejović, Bulc: EU invested over 100 million Euros in transport since independence of Montenegro

Brussels, Belgium (17 February 2017) -- Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović met today with the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport Violeta Bulc.

The officials exchanged views on the progress of Montenegro in chapters 14. Transport policy and 21. Trans-European networks, as well as the importance of Agenda of connecting the Western Balkans within the framework of the Berlin process for Montenegro and Region.

Minister Pejović emphasised Montenegro's commitment to fulfilling its obligations in the chapters relating to transport, the implementation of which has a practical and economic significance for the citizens, because it involves the creation of prerequisites for the quality infrastructure. Implementation of Agenda of connecting the Western Balkans is the most tangible evidence of the benefits that our citizens have from the EU integration, as he said. In this regard, he stressed that the funding of new projects is of vital importance for the development of transport infrastructure, such as the project of rehabilitation of the Bar-Vrbnica railway line, worth 40 million Euros, 20 million Euros of which were taken from the EU grants.

Commissioner Bulc expressed satisfaction that Montenegro signed an Agreement on Transport Community between the EU and the Western Balkans a few days ago, saying that this is a step closer to the realisation of the objectives from the Agenda of connecting. She praised the current results of Montenegro in the mentioned chapters, especially in the part relating to the definition of basic transport network of main road and railway corridors, which include airports and the Port of Bar in Montenegro. She stressed the readiness of the European Commission to support the construction of infrastructure, in line with long-term plans of Montenegro in this area, and to properly use funds from the Connecting Europe Facility.

The officials emphasised the fact that EU invested over 100 million Euros in transport in Montenegro in the last ten years. In this regard, they agreed on the need to continue with the actively proposing and projects preparing for the future summits in the framework of the Berlin process, specifically pointing out the significant support from the EU through the Western Balkan Investment Framework.