Pavlova, Pažin: It is fact that Montenegro has made lot of progress

Sofia, Bulgaria (25 October 2017) -- During his stay in the Republic of Bulgaria, Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Interior and Foreign Policy and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin met today with Minister for the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU 2018 Lilyana Pavlova.

DPM Pažin informed Minister Pavlova about the plans and expectations of Montenegro during the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of European Union during the first half of 2018. The Deputy Prime Minister announced that he appreciates that during the Bulgarian Presidency, the Council of the EU will create conditions for the start of a process that will enable Montenegro to get the criteria for closing the negotiations in chapters 23 and 24. DPM Pažin emphasised the importance of Bulgarian Presidency of the Council, when it should be shown to all aspiring members that the European Union is not a distant dream or an abstraction, and that all citizens need to feel concrete benefits from membership.

Minister Pavlova said that it is a fact that Montenegro has made a lot of progress on its path towards the European Union and that a clear European perspective for our country is recognised. In this regard, she pointed out that the policy of enlarging the Union to the Western Balkans region will be the special priority of the Bulgarian Presidency. She added that Bulgaria's commitment to EU enlargement policy is not only reflected on the negotiation process, but also on concrete projects on the basis of which citizens will feel the benefits and importance of Montenegro's membership in the European Union.

The officials stated the importance of the European Union's commitment to the Western Balkans and to each country that wishes to become a member of the Union. They also emphasised the need for the consensus of all EU member states on the policy of enlargement, and in that context, they made a positive review of the recent statements of the EU leaders in favor of such Union policy.