PM Marković and Chancellor Merkel in Berlin: Montenegro ready for greater presence of German companies

Prime Minister Duško Marković today, in Berlin, said at a press conference after official talks with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, that there is a time for greater confidence in Montenegrin economic space, business environment and a higher level of rule of law that is necessary for German investors and German companies.

Thanks to Chancellor Merkel and the German government for overall support to Montenegro in the implementation of its foreign policy priorities and overall Eurointegration ambitions, Prime Minister Marković emphasized that Germany, as a key partner for Montenegro and the Region, understands well our needs and sees the unquestionable future of the entire Region in Europe. In this context, the Prime Minister assessed that the Berlin Process "enhanced our European vision and our European perspective, improved dialogue in the region and helped us build capacities and capabilities to solve open issues ourselves, without bringing them just at table to our partners."

Speaking about bilateral cooperation at the political level, PM Marković enhanced: "Montenegro is ready to apply and respect the standards when it comes to the question of the development of democracy and the political system. In this sense, we have openly talked about the shortcomings and weaknesses at this time concerning the fight against organised crime and corruption: we strengthen the institutions, give them additional strength to do more in this plan, and rule of law is not a restriction for the development of Montenegro and its European perspective. I, personally and this Government, we are ready to make further step forward in this direction and we also requested expert support from the Chancellor and receive this support today and I believe that we will have a quick advisory position in one of our departments dealing with the issues of combating organised crime and corruption".

Stressing Montenegro's strong interest in economic cooperation with the Federal Republic of Germany, PM Marković stressed: "We want German investors in Montenegro not only for money, but for transferring knowledge and experience and good practices, and today we discussed creating conditions for German companies and German investors to be more present in sectors that are very important for our economy, primarily in energy, tourism, agriculture and some other sectors. "

Answering a journalistic question on this topic, PM Marković underlined: "Montenegro is ready for a greater presence of German companies and German investors in Montenegro. Today we talked about energy as a resource in which there is room for serious cooperation, in which we need to provide a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The Germany's experience in this process is relevant, and I believe that there is a time of greater confidence in our economic space, in our business environment, in the greater level of rule of law that is necessary for German investors and German companies, and that our economic cooperation will grow very rapidly in positive sense".

Expressing satisfaction with the achieved results of Montenegro in completing membership in the NATO alliance and the high degree of concreteisation in the negotiations on accession to the European Union, Chancellor Merkel said that today's conversation is a clear confirmation of the European perspective of Montenegro and the Western Balkans, starting from the territorial integrity of all countries, not in depending on the time frames, rather than the fulfillment of the conditions for membership. Chancellor stressed that it is important to end all bilateral conflicts in order to open up the possibility of cooperation within the European Union. In that sense, Ms. Merkel said that there was a discussion on the issues that still need to be done in Montenegro, in the area of ​​rule of law, fight against corruption and organised crime.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO