PM Spajić meets with Director General of Eurostat Mariana Kotzeva

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić met with Director General of Eurostat Mariana Kotzeva to review the successful completion of Montenegro’s census of population, households, and dwellings.

The meeting highlighted the pivotal role of Monstat in flawlessly managing this process, which has long been a societal challenge.

Both parties underscored that Montenegro still faces significant tasks in fulfilling the obligations under Chapter 18 – Statistics, which is crucial for closing other negotiating chapters in Montenegro’s EU accession process.

Prime Minister Spajić emphasised Montenegro’s ambitious goal of closing all negotiation chapters by the end of 2026. To achieve this, immediate steps will be taken to develop an Action Plan for Chapter 18 in cooperation with Eurostat, providing a clear roadmap to complete this chapter efficiently.

Efficiency is critical, as the progress in Chapter 18 will directly impact the advancement of other key chapters, such as Chapters 17 and 33. I am confident that the exceptional team at Monstat, backed by expert support from our European partners and the Government, is fully capable of overcoming the challenges ahead, said Prime Minister Spajić.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of strengthening the trust of EU member states in Montenegro’s statistical reforms. He emphasised the government’s commitment to delivering transparent and reliable data on public finances, a fundamental requirement for aligning with EU standards in this field.

To this end, long-term expert support from the European Commission, facilitated by Eurostat, was agreed upon during the meeting.

While there is a great deal of work ahead, it is achievable within a short timeframe, provided we maintain proper organization and full commitment from all parties involved, Director General of Eurostat Kotzeva.

The meeting was also attended by Monstat representatives, led by Director Miroslav Pejović, and the Head of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, Johann Sattler. Prime Minister Spajić expressed his gratitude to Director General Kotzeva for Eurostat’s invaluable assistance during the census and announced the upcoming completion of Montenegro’s agricultural census.