Ibrahimović-Šarec: Support for Montenegro, EU membership guarantees stability and further prosperity of the region

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ervin Ibrahimović met today in Podgorica with the Member of the European Parliament and Permanent Rapporteur for Montenegro Marjan Šarec.

Minister Ibrahimović expressed satisfaction with Šarec's visit to Montenegro, assessing the importance of the continuity of dialogue with EU institutions.

He recalled the progress Montenegro has made on its European path by closing three chapters, emphasizing that the previous year was one of the most successful in the context of achieving the key foreign policy goal – EU membership, which is why all social actors have an additional obligation to maintain focus on European integration.

"We must not allow deviation from this path. We have never been closer to joining the Union, this is what our citizens expect from us, and I believe that, with joint efforts, with the support of European partners, we will succeed in overcoming all challenges, complete our part of the work, and by 2028 become part of the EU family of states," said Ibrahimović.

Šarec stated that the institutions of the European Union provide full support for reforms in Montenegro. He assessed that Montenegro has made evident progress and that it is crucial to continue with reforms and maintain the momentum of the negotiation process. He emphasized that "enlargement is now in focus and that states should progress according to achieved results and individual merits." In this regard, he assessed it as important that political entities jointly find solutions that will not affect the success of Montenegro's European path.

The conversation also addressed the importance of strengthening good neighborly relations in the context of European integration, and the interlocutors agreed that EU membership is the best guarantee of stability and further prosperity for the Western Balkan states.