Press release: Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic meets European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini

Prime Minister Zeljko Sturanovic met with European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini today.

Having thanked Mr Frattini for his participation in todays celebration of the opening of the joint Visa Application Center for the Countries of the Schengen Agreement at the Slovenian Embassy in Podgorica, the Prime Minister noted that the Application Center and the recently signed Visa Facilitation Agreement between Montenegro and the EU, taking effect on 1 January 2008, would greatly facilitate Montenegrin citizens entry into and movement within the EU.

The European Commissions Vice President congratulated the Montenegrin Government on the opening of the Application Center and expressed his satisfaction that the Montenegrin citizens would be able to apply for visas to 24 EU countries, signatories of the Schengen Agreement, in Podgorica as early as the beginning of next year. Vice-President Frattini recognized the Montenegrin Governments efforts towards European integration, describing the results Montenegro had made in combating all forms of crime, particularly corruption and organized crime, as very important.

Both parties expressed their satisfaction with the forthcoming signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Montenegro and the EU on the 15th of this month in Luxembourg, which would represent both an important incentive and an obligation to Montenegro to persevere with the effective reform required for achieving EU standards. In this regard, particular reference was made to the importance of carrying out an efficient reform of the justice system, which would enable further development of an independent judiciary through the provisions of the new Constitution.

It was mutually agreed that the new Constitution and the implementation of the project of issuing biometric passports in Montenegro would represent significant steps towards full liberalization, i.e. a visa-free regime between Montenegro and the EU.