Minister Radulović on the HoMs meeting: Montenegro is ready for the new phase in negotiation process

“Montenegro welcomes strengthening of political aspect of negotiation process, and we impatiently expect Intergovernmental conference, planned for June”, Minister of Foreign Affairs Đorđe Radulović emphasized on today’s meeting with ambassadors of the EU member states, in organization of the EU Delegation in Podgorica. Ambassadors of the EU member states in Podgorica participated on the meeting, as well as Ambassador of the Portugal, as presiding of the EU Council, Maria Virgínia Mendes da Silva Pina.

Head of Montenegrin Diplomacy stressed the importance that adoption of new methodology has for Montenegro and Serbia, with which, as he stated, political aspect of negotiation in regard to technical one that has been dominant thus far, will be empowered. In that context, he emphasized that Montenegro appreciates Portuguese commitment during the presidency over the EU Council, in order to finalize the negotiation process, while reminding that it is important to get clear guidelines for defining concrete steps for our European path.

“Rule of law remains crucial for the negotiation process, as well as fight against corruption and organized crime”, Minister Radulović stated. As he said, this is confirmed also with encouraging messages from the Resolution of the European Parliament for Montenegro, where efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović were welcomed, so we will continue our pledges in that direction, in order to accelerate activities in these chapters.

The European future remains priority of all member states and candidate countries for the membership in the EU – Head of Montenegrin diplomacy uttered, thus expressed the gratitude on non-paper signed by ministers of foreign affairs of Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia, with which future and participation of countries of the Region at the Conference for Future of the Europe, is being affirmed. He also stated that enlargement process is of great importance for the EU, so as for long term stability of the Western Balkans. 

Head of Delegation of the EU in Montenegro, Ambassador Oana Popa, uttered that May is month of Europe, so that this kind of meeting is very significant from the aspect of qualitative communication and observing the enlargement process of Montenegro.

“For that Montenegro is pro-European, clearly show recent public opinion polls under which 76,6 % citizens support membership in the EU, 70% parties are pro-European, while it is in full accordance with the EU security and foreign policy”, Popa concluded.

On that line, she stressed that EU strongly supports membership of the Western Balkans’ countries, but that also expects more concrete results in the forthcoming period, particularly in the context of implementing reform agenda on the EU path.

Portugal supports the EU enlargement process, as very important for Europan future   - Ambassador Pina stated. She also stressed that Portugal undertakes all the efforts, not just as presiding country over EU, so that Intergovernmental conference take place in June, as one of the important legacies of their half – year presiding.

Minister Radulović took this occasion to express the gratitude to all collocutors on help not only from EU, but from all the member states, during pandemic, while informing with epidemiological situation in country, that is much better. He expressed the belief that Montenegro will readily welcome tourism season, as significant aspect for economic recovery of the country.