CrossBorder Cooperation Serbia-Montenegro

PODGORICA, 18 March 2010 - The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Füle visited, Podgorica. Commissioner Füle met with senior Montenegrin officials and civil society organisations to discuss the country's EU integration process.

Commissioner Füle congratulated Montenegro on the good results achieved in the integration process during 2009 and for a good start to 2010. At a joint press conference with Montenegro's Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Commissioner Füle pointed out that there is nonetheless a lot of work still ahead in the process.

"The work that lies ahead of us is even more demanding and challenging," Commissioner Füle said. He noted that more the country moves towards the accession negotiations, the stronger and more comprehensive its reform efforts must be.

"The good news is that those reforms are needed in any case. The fight against organised crime and corruption, consolidation of the rule of law and strengthening administrative capacities are reforms which are needed first and foremost for your citizens," Commissioner Füle said.

Commissioner Füle concluded by saying that he and PM Djukanovic share a common view that the implementation of policies in fighting organised crime and corruption, together with tangible results in that area, are now very important.

Prime Minister Djukanovic said that the visit, soon after the Commissioner was nominated, is testament to the commitment of the European Commission to the EU's enlargement policy.

"I believe that our commitment to the integration process will allow us to progress quickly and hopefully already this year to gain candidate country status and open accession negotiations," Mr Djukanovic said.

Commissioner Füle also met today with President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic and Parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapic.

Earlier in the day Commissioner Füle met with civil society representatives with whom he discussed human rights issues, freedom of speech and the importance of the role played by civil society in the EU integration process.

Commissioner Füle also met with members of the National Council for European Integration and the Parliamentary Committee for International Relations and European Integration to discuss the quality of the EU integration process and the political consensus on Montenegro's EU agenda.