Ministers Radulović and Schallenberg: Austria will remain promoter of Western Balkans’ European integration

Minister of Foreign Affairs Đorđe Radulović spoke today by phone with the Federal Minister of European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Alexander Schallenberg.

Minister Radulović expressed the gratitude to his counterpart for the remarkable support that Austria is providing to our country continuously. As he stressed, in these turbulent times that we are living in, among others, we especially value the willingness of the Government of Austria in accepting Montenegrin COVID patients from the intensive care department for further treatment in Austrian hospitals. “That represents true evidence of friendship and solidarity, or to put it in other words, true friends and allies are reaffirming themselves in times of trouble”, stated Minister Radulović.

Head of Montenegrin diplomacy pointed out the importance of Austrian support regarding European enlargement, highlighting that their support fundamentally contributes to the intensification of the negotiation process of Montenegro with the EU. He also conveyed our gratitude for Austrian direct technical and expert help, which is recognized as a strong impulse in the implementation of European legal regulations in areas of foremost importance for socio-economic development. Minister Radulović reminded that two states cherish traditionally friendly relations and, that in the forthcoming period, the high-level and working-level dialogue should be intensified, as well as the realization of previously commenced initiatives and projects continued.

Minister Schallenberg praised the Montenegrin efforts on its path towards the EU hitherto. As pointed out, Austria is fully committed to further integration of the Western Balkans’ countries in the EU, and on that line, Austria will continue to provide absolute support to candidate countries and promote the enlargement policy of the European family. In that regard, for the third quarter of this year, he announced the organization of the conference in Vienna, which will be dealing with issues of Western Balkans’ European integration and Austrian role in that context.

Head of Austrian diplomacy agreed with the Minister that bilateral relations should be additionally enriched through dynamization of contacts at the institutional level and with the realization of projects of importance for further development of cooperation.

Interlocutors agreed to organize official visits when the epidemiological conditions allow, and continuation of communication regarding all matters of common interest.