PM Marković, Bulgarian President Radev: Montenegro closest to EU membership

Podgorica, Montenegro (11 July 2017) -- At a meeting with Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev said that Montenegro is well advanced in the European integration and is a positive example in the Western Balkan region, and every country that implements such a policy of peace and stability deserves membership in the European Union.

The Bulgarian President stressed that every country that meets criteria should be in the European Union, and that the enlargement will be high on the agenda during the EU presidency that will be entrusted to his country in the first half of next year.

President Radev stressed Bulgaria's commitment to further enlargement of the EU, and the officials agreed that the continuation of the open door policy of the Union is of extreme importance for the countries of the Western Balkans, because for them it means not only integration, but peace, stability and economic prosperity.

Recalling that Montenegro has been negotiating with the EU for five years, Prime Minister Marković said that we expect the opening of all 33 chapters by the middle of next year, as well as the closure of chapters in which the negotiations were conducted successfully. Prime Minister Marković noted that Montenegro is trying to end the EU negotiation process in the next five years and underlined that he believes that the EU will not seek any alternative in this process.

President Radev congratulated Montenegro on membership in NATO and stated that this is a proof of a responsible and consistent policy that our country has led. He expressed Bulgaria's willingness to continue to assist Montenegro, especially in the defence sector and reform of the armed forces. It was agreed at the meeting that an incentive to defence ministries of the two states will be given in order to intensify cooperation.

Jointly noting the excellent political relations, they stressed the need for further improvement of economic relations and cooperation, especially in the fields of energy, infrastructure and tourism. Prime Minister Marković called for intensifying cooperation through the Joint Committee for economic cooperation between the two countries, given the vast potential that the Government of Montenegro seeks to make the best use of.

At the meeting, the processes of regional integration were assessed as particularly positive. In this context, cooperation in the field of the Berlin process was welcomed, but it was also pointed to the importance of cooperation through the South-East European Cooperation Process.

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE