Abazović meets with Picula and Castaldo: We are determined to follow the path to European integration

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović met today with European Parliament's Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula and Vice-President of the European Parliament Fabio Massimo Castaldo.

"The future of Montenegro is in the European Union and we are convinced that the process of European integration includes reforms that encourage the overall development of the state and society," said DPM Abazović.

In a conversation with Picula, Abazović said that the first democratic change of government in the history of the country brought a great increase in support for Montenegro's European integration. DPM Abazović said that, compared to December 2019, when 66.1 percent of Montenegrin citizens had a positive attitude towards the EU and 24.3 percent negative, there was growth in a short period of time, so now we have 77.6 percent of citizens with positive attitude towards the EU and 17.7 percent with negative attitude.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised that Montenegro is committed to reforms in the area of the rule of law and that one of the priorities of the Government is the fight against organized crime and corruption. Referring to the previous period, DPM Abazović said that in the previous 100 days, progress had been made and that the National Council for the Fight against High-Level Corruption had been formed.

Montenegro's Chief Negotiator with the EU Zorka Kordić and Deputy Prime Minister's Adviser Ana Rašović also attended the meeting with European Parliament's Rapporteur for Montenegro Tonino Picula.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro also met with Vice-President of the European Parliament Fabio Massimo Castaldo.

DPM Abazović said that the Government is determined to follow its European integration path and that it will work dedicatedly on fulfilling the obligations from the European agenda. Abazović said that the top priority in the Government's work is the fight against organized crime and corruption, and that the establishment of the National Council for the Fight against High-Level Corruption is an important precondition for that.

In a conversation with Castaldo, Deputy Prime Minister Abazović also referred to the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and said that cooperation and solidarity are the key to progress in these difficult times. Abazović informed Castaldo about the COVID-19 situation in Montenegro and the new package of measures worth EUR 163 million to support the economy and citizens.

Montenegro's Chief Negotiator with the EU Zorka Kordić and Deputy Prime Minister's Adviser Miodrag Laković also attended the meeting with Vice-President of the European Parliament Fabio Massimo Castaldo.