Czech EU Presidency is an opportunity to speed up negotiation process

Montenegrin institutions will use all their capacities to show that Montenegro is determined to bring the negotiation process to an end and, in this context, will make additional efforts to obtain closing benchmarks in Chapters 23 and 24 during the Czech EU Presidency, which would accelerate the overall negotiation process, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs Jovana Marović at the meeting with Ambassador of the Czech Republic Janina Hřebíčková.

She explained that the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU will serve as a great opportunity for the European Union, on the one hand, and Montenegro, as a candidate country, on the other, to send a strong message that the enlargement process is alive and that the Union remains available to assist candidate countries and potential candidate countries in the overall democratization of society and the achievement of European standards.

Marović added that Montenegro will reform the negotiating structure, so that it is fully harmonized with the new methodology of EU enlargement.

In order to be able to use the Czech Presidency in the second half of this year in a way that is favorable for Montenegro, Montenegro must make it clear to Czech officials in the coming period that it has reached a higher level in the negotiation process than other candidate countries and potential candidate countries, Hřebíčková emphasized and congratulated Minister Marović on her appointment as Minister for European Affairs.

She added that, taking into account numerous circumstances in the domestic and foreign policy plan, and the great responsibility and obligations of this institution, it is extremely useful that Montenegro now has a separate ministry in charge of European affairs.

In that regard, as she said, strengthening internal cohesion in Montenegro on the issue of European integration is of crucial importance.

Everyone in the European Union should hear the same messages from representatives of Montenegrin institutions regarding the issue of Montenegro's European perspective, regardless of the political parties to which individual officials belong, because it proves that society is changing in a positive way and that political differences do not affect a common desire for Montenegro to make progress in terms of joining the Union, Hřebíčková said.

The two officials agreed that there is a potential for Montenegro and the Czech Republic to further develop their bilateral relations, especially at the end of the process of negotiations for Montenegro's membership in the European Union. The Czech Republic can provide Montenegro with its expert support in specific areas of the EU acquis, so in that context, the opening of a diplomatic and consular mission of Montenegro in Prague should be considered, they pointed out.