Caroço: Montenegro is a frontrunner in European integration

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović met today with the newly appointed Ambassador of Portugal to Montenegro, José Rui Velez Caroço, and wished him success in his new role.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović reiterated that European integration remains Montenegro's top foreign policy priority. He emphasised that Montenegro’s membership in the EU by 2028 would not only have a significant impact on the Western Balkans region and other candidate countries but would also strengthen the credibility of the European Union itself. Ivanović expressed hope that Portugal will continue to promote Montenegro as a success story and support its European future.  

Ambassador Caroço thanked Ivanović for the warm reception and reaffirmed his country’s strong support for Montenegro's EU membership. He highlighted that Montenegro is a frontrunner in European integration and deserves to secure its rightful place within the European family of nations as soon as possible. Caroço added that, given the current geopolitical context, the EU needs a successful example for other candidate countries to follow, and Montenegro can certainly fulfill that role.

The Ambassador also stressed the significant benefits that European integration brings to strengthening bilateral relations among EU member states.

Both sides agreed that there is mutual interest in further deepening bilateral ties between Montenegro and Portugal, not only by enhancing political dialogue but also through cooperation in various fields such as the economy, culture, tourism, maritime security, science, and trade.