Press release: Prime Minister Sturanovic meets Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Wouter Bos

Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Wouter Bos and his associates in Podgorica today, as part of their officials visit to Montenegro.

Describing relations between the Republic of Montenegro and the Kingdom of the Netherlands as exceptionally good, the Prime Minister thanked the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its continued and constructive support to Montenegro and its contribution to the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Having informed his guests of the Governments priorities concerning Montenegros European and Euro-Atlantic agenda and the issues concerning its socio-economic development, the Prime Minister pointed out that the Netherlands was also partly responsible for Montenegros recent achievements, having provided a strong support through different aspects of concrete technical and financial assistance.

He also emphasized the importance of signing the Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Diplomatic and Official Passports with the Benelux countries and the Readmission and Visa Facilitation Agreement with the EU, as Montenegros first step towards the White Schengen List and a liberalized visa regime.

Prime Minister Sturanovic acquainted his guests with the current political and economic situation in the Republic. He also made reference to the enduring macroeconomic stability with upward trends in all indicators, such as GDP growth, foreign direct investment, law inflation rate, budgetary surplus and declining unemployment. The Prime Minister said that the Government focused on a further comprehensive reform and strengthening of economic growth and development, in order to create new jobs and improve the living standard of the population.

Deputy Prime Minister Bos described Montenegros achievements in the first year of independence as impressive, emphasizing that the motive for his delegations visit was to identify Montenegros needs on its path to Europe.

Both sides expressed interest for further strengthening of overall bilateral relations, above all economic cooperation, with the Montenegrin side voicing particular interest for a higher involvement of Dutch investment partners and further cooperation in judicial matters, tourism, transport, agriculture, power industry, defense and European integration.

After joining the World Bank and the IMF, Montenegro became a member of the World Bank constituency of 13 countries represented by the Netherlands. This will be an opportunity to identify Montenegros needs and develop overall cooperation through a series of new projects engaging the existing and developing new assets in Montenegro.