President Macron hosts Prime Minister Spajić: Announcement of four pillars of cooperation between Montenegro and France

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić met with President of France Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace as part of his working visit to Paris.

During the meeting, excellent bilateral relations were emphasised, and Prime Minister Spajić expressed gratitude for the support that France provides to Montenegro on its EU path. He emphasised Montenegro's commitment to being ready for accession before 2030, with the current pace of reforms being a guarantee of the 44th Government's dedication to this goal.

President Macron highlighted France's full support for Montenegro's integration process and expressed readiness to provide support, particularly at the expert level.

A phenomenal meeting with President Macron, who conveyed France's strong support on our EU path. We discussed strengthening bilateral relations, primarily in the economic realm. We primarily discussed a strategic framework document, which would serve as the basis for the partnership between the two countries, and President Macron accepted such an initiative, said Spajić after the meeting, adding:

The document would be based on four pillars: defence, health, infrastructure, and ecology. We will first work on defence, and already in March, health ministers will meet to discuss projects in that area. We will also collaborate on infrastructure projects, which are crucial for the development of highways and railway infrastructure in the next six years. All of this will significantly boost cooperation between the two countries!

Prime Minister Spajić invited President Macron to visit Montenegro for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of independence restoration and offered to organise the European Political Community Summit in Montenegro for this occasion, which President Macron accepted.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Spajić welcomed President Macron's special sensitivity to current security and humanitarian challenges worldwide. It was noted that Montenegro and France have convergent views in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the war in Ukraine.

The importance of combating climate change and protecting the environment was emphasised.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić was received with the highest state honors, and the event was attended by numerous French media teams.