Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets EU expert team

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic met today in Podgorica with the European Union expert team, headed by Reinhard Priebe, Director of the Western Balkans External Relations Directorate General of the European Commission.

The Prime minister and his guests expressed their satisfaction with the results of the recent meeting of the EU foreign minister in Maastricht and conviction that the implementation of the model of double tracks would unblock the process of Serbia and Montenegros accession to the EU. The Prime Minister pointed out that this solution had recognized the reality of the situation and the specific quality of the State Union, which had been the position of the Government of Montenegro from the very beginning, adding that he expected that the implementation of the double track model would prevent Serbia and Montenegro from becoming hostages to each other on their way to Europe, due to different systems, interest and capacities.

The essence of the double track model is that, within the present arrangement between Serbia and Montenegro, one Agreement on Stabilization and Association be signed, but with two protocols, where the member states would separately negotiate on all the issues within their competence. That would, on the basis of progressive adoption of European standards, bring the two systems closer together. In addition, the already achieved results in the field of harmonization would be taken into account.

On those grounds, both parties expressed their readiness to implement the double track model as soon as possible.