DPM Pažin: Montenegro sees EU as key framework for overall national development and prosperity

Podgorica, Montenegro (18 December 2017) -- Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Pažin hosted earlier today a delegation of the European Parliament, headed by MEP David Martin.

DPM Pažin noted that Montenegro has stayed firm on its pro-European course and that it sees the EU as a key economic, political and value framework for the overall national development and prosperity.

"We have pursued this course despite a very complex geopolitical context and challenging domestic political scene. In the first year of the mandate, the Government established a socio-economic environment that resulted in the successful completion of NATO accession process, a notable progress in reforms under the European agenda and in 4.2% GDP growth, representing one of the highest rates of economic growth in Europe,” the Deputy Prime Minister explained.

He emphasised that the constant building and strengthening of the rule of law system is a key and prerequisite for the overall social and economic progress, hopeful that in 2018 conditions will be created for Montenegro to obtain benchmarks for closing negotiations in chapters 23 and 24.

Presenting the key results in this area, DPM Pažin underscored that in the first nine months of the year investigations have been conducted against 63 persons and charges have been brought against 43 persons for the criminal offense of organised crime, adding that 24 persons were the subject of an investigation into money laundering. As to the fight against corruption, the Deputy Prime Minister said that 12 cases have been brought  against 54 physical and 12 legal entities.

Head of the European Parliament's delegation David Martin said that the European Parliament fully supports the principle of advancement in the EU accession based on individual merits, emphasising that Montenegro has progressed the most compared to other countries. He in particular praised Montenegro’s positive role on the international scene reflected in full compliance of its foreign policy with the EU's common foreign and security policy.