PM Marković in Sofia: Montenegro, Bulgaria agree - EU integration is crucial to further WB perspective and democratic development

Montenegro and the Republic of Bulgaria agree that the European integration of the Western Balkans is crucial for the further perspective of its faster economic and democratic development. We are encouraged that the new Brussels administration has given a long-awaited momentum to enlargement policy, pointing out that the Western Balkans is a strategic interest of the European Union - Prime Minister Duško Marković said in Sofia at the beginning of his official visit to Bulgaria.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the host, President of the Council of Ministers Boyko Borissov, the Prime Minister of Montenegro expressed his gratitude to the Government of Bulgaria and the Prime Minister personally for their selfless support for our country's European ambitions.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to express my great gratitude to the Bulgarian Government, the Bulgarian people and especially PM Borissov for their overall support to Montenegro in realising its key foreign and national interests - above all our integration into NATO and, of course, the European Union. Bulgaria and PM Borissov stood by Montenegro, supporting us, sharing their experiences and believing in our potential, when that was not easy," said Prime Minister Duško Marković. The Prime Minister emphasised Bulgaria's key support for our country during Bulgaria's EU presidency when, thanks to Prime Minister Borissov's commitment, the Adriatic-Ionian route was included on the list of European corridors.

Speaking about our European integration process, PM Marković said that he had informed the host of our expectations to open the only remaining chapter in the coming period - Competition; and to begin closing the set of chapters for which we have already achieved internal readiness. The Prime Minister indicated that he had initiated a dialogue with relevant political and social actors in Montenegro on all issues of interest to our European path.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov expressed his full support for Montenegro's European integration and mentioned protests against the Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Legal Status of Religious Communities: "We condemn all the incidents and vandalism that result from religious processions in Montenegro. We support your country as an ally and a friend," the Bulgarian Prime Minister said.

Speaking about the situation in our region, Prime Minister Borissov condemned the views of member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Dodik against the official visit of President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović to the country.

"I cannot understand what we are doing to ourselves," Prime Minister Borissov said, while anti-European behaviour was taking place in our region. … You cannot speak honestly about Europe and European unity without allowing the President of Montenegro to enter the country," said Prime Minister Borissov, adding that such rhetoric and behaviour are unacceptable.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO

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