Abazović, Lajčak: European perspective is the best foreign policy vision of Montenegro and Western Balkans

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović met today in the villa Gorica with EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčak.

DPM Abazović said that the Government's foreign policy goal is Montenegro's membership in the European Union and that the Government is clearly striving for the necessary reforms in order to speed up the process of closing the negotiation chapters.

The European perspective is the best foreign policy vision of Montenegro and the Western Balkans. Only a strong civil state and a society governed by the rule of law can lead to Montenegro's membership in the European Union, said DPM Abazović.

Abazović said that membership in the European Union among the citizens of Montenegro enjoys the greatest support ever.

The fight against corruption and organized crime is the top priority, and the Government will deal with this problem with all its capacities, Abazović said.

EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčak stated that the European Union is committed to the integration of the Western Balkans, as an issue of the highest priority and common importance. Lajčak emphasised that Montenegro is a leader in the negotiations in the Western Balkans, emphasising that the key to Montenegro's European integration is the rule of law, freedom of the media and the fight against corruption.

The EU Special Representative for the Western Balkans said that Montenegro, in order to make further progress on its path to the EU and meet the provisional benchmarks for Chapter 23 in the EU accession negotiations, needs to make further progress in rule of law reforms, including further progress, not regress, in the implementation of judicial reform. He also pointed out that possible changes in the prosecutorial laws should be implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the Venice Commission. Lajčak noted that it is very important that the institutions of the system, especially the judiciary and the prosecutor's office, must be independent in their work.

The EU Special Representative for the Western Balkans said Montenegro's success is very important in the context of Western Balkans integration. Lajčak stated that the political transition and peaceful change of government in the recent elections is a historic moment for Montenegro.

Head of Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro Oana Cristina Popa also attended the meeting.