DPM Ivanović meets with COELA members

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović concluded his official visit to Brussels with a meeting with members of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA). The meeting, held in Brussels, was also attended by representatives of the European Commission, the EU Council, and the European External Action Service.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović emphasized that the primary focus of his three-day working visit to Brussels was to reaffirm Montenegro’s strategic commitment to full EU membership. He reiterated that Montenegro highly values the support of EU member states, as it is crucial for the successful realization of the country’s ambitious yet realistic goal to complete the negotiation process with the EU by the end of 2026.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović provided an overview of the political situation in Montenegro, highlighting the importance of all societal stakeholders remaining focused on advancing reforms and fulfilling obligations on the path to EU accession. He also discussed the political aspects of the negotiation timeline and the tangible benefits that Montenegrin citizens will experience upon meeting these commitments.

Members of the Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU (COELA) commended Montenegro’s achievements in the EU integration process thus far and expressed their expectation that the country will close the remaining negotiation chapters in line with the ambitious yet realistic plan agreed upon with the European Commission. Furthermore, they emphasized that Montenegro’s full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy is a clear indication of its strong pro-European orientation. They agreed that the full operational capacity of all institutions is essential to maintaining, building upon, and ultimately concluding the progress made in the past year, leading to Montenegro’s imminent EU membership.