Abazović and Marović to pay three-day visit to Brussels and meet with top EU officials

Prime Minister Dritan Abazović and Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Policy, European Integration and Regional Cooperation and Minister of European Affairs Jovana Marović will be in Brussels for a three-day official visit from tomorrow, where they will meet with top EU officials.

The meetings will be an opportunity for Prime Minister Abazović and Deputy Prime Minister Marović to present Government's political priorities and point out the need to continue the uncompromising fight against organised crime and corruption at all levels. Therefore, special emphasis will be placed on the Government's plans to fulfill the obligations from the European agenda and achieve tangible results in the field of the rule of law.

PM Abazović and DPM Marović will have the opportunity to confirm the essential principles of Montenegro's foreign policy – European integration, commitment to NATO and regional cooperation. Considering that this is the first visit of the Prime Minister of Montenegro to the institutions of the European Union, they will stress Government's strong determination to implement substantial reforms and ongoing activities in key Chapters 23 and 24 through dialogue at the highest political level. In this context, the aim is to meet the interim benchmarks for these chapters as soon as possible and to obtain the Interim benchmarks assessment report (IBAR).

Meetings with top European officials in Brussels will also be an opportunity to exchange views on facing current political challenges caused by Russia's aggression against Ukraine, sustainability of EU enlargement policy in the Western Balkans, and strengthening the Union's integration capacity.

This visit will once again confirm Montenegro's full alignment with the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Montenegro's strong political will and commitment to the negotiation process, taking into account the high level of public support for European integration. Furthermore, they will stress the readiness of the state to meet the necessary criteria for membership through key reform processes at the national level and continuous harmonisation of legislation with the acquis communautaire.