Support to Montenegro’s EU bid regardless of Brexit

The United Kingdom supports the enlargement of the European Union, despite the country’s determination to leave the EU, because the admission of new member states will benefit both the acceding countries and the Union.

This was heard at a meeting between Montenegro’s Chief EU Negotiator Aleksandar Drljevic and British Ambassador in Podgorica Alison Kemp.

Drljevic introduced the Ambassador to the progress in the EU accession talks, while underlining that public information and dialogue on this issue is an important element of the current phase of Montenegro’s European integration.

He reiterated that the rule of law remains in the center of the talks, while underlining that the forthcoming meeting of the Subcommittee for Justice, Freedom and Security will be an opportunity to sum-up the past results, especially in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

“In addition to pursuing results in the rule of law, we continue to meet our commitments in other areas. Therefore, we seek to step up efforts to open Chapter 27,” Drljevic said.

Kemp is said to have expressed interest in seeing further progress in the rule of law, especially in the area of the freedom of the press.

In that context, she voiced the readiness of the United Kingdom to continue to provide expert support in the specific areas within chapters 23 and 24.

GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO
SECTOR FOR INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EU AND THE EU ACCESSION PROCESS