Deputy Prime Minister Bečić meets with Vladimír Bilčík

Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić met with a member of the European Parliament and co-chair of the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAPC) Vladimír Bilčík. During the meeting, they exchanged views on the achievements of the new government over the past seven months, with a special focus on the fulfillment of interim benchmarks aimed at receiving the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR).

Unlocking numerous institutions and restoring their full functionality after many years, achieving such impressive results in the fight against crime and corruption, for which I am particularly proud as the coordinator of the intelligence and security sector, fulfilling all interim benchmarks, thus not only unblocking but also strongly accelerating our European path, and achieving all this in such a short period despite numerous challenges, is truly a great success for us. We will continue at this pace, hoping that receiving IBAR will pave the way for us to close a significant number of negotiating chapters this year. Continuing success on the European path and the determined fight against crime and corruption are the greatest national interests to which we are strongly committed, emphasised the Deputy Prime Minister.

I congratulate you on your results in the fight against crime and corruption. I fondly remember our excellent cooperation when you led the Montenegrin Parliament, and the results and significance of the numerous reforms you implemented in the Parliament of Montenegro are even more evident today from this perspective. Although my mandate will soon end, I will always advocate for the EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, especially Montenegro, which has done significant work towards receiving IBAR and faces substantial tasks even after receiving it, concluded Mr. Bilčík.