EC "recognizes Montenegro's progress"

The European Council has "opened the door for Montenegro towards the start of pre-accession negotiations", said EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. This is a fair recognition of the progress it made in the five years of its independence, and "especially since it obtained candidate status in December 2010", he stated. EC "recognizes Montenegro's progress" Fule and Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic agreed that the Montenegrin authorities' resolve to carry out "ambitious reforms, together with the active participation of the parliamentary opposition, civil society and the media, remains the key to success." The European commissioner stressed that the national consensus about the country's European path is one of the key values of Montenegro in the process of Euro-integration, which should be preserved through all the phases of the pre-accession process. He also said that, in keeping with the decisions of the European Council, the European Commission will present a report this spring on the implementation of recent reforms in Montenegro, especially focusing on the rule of law and fundamental rights. It will depend on this report whether Montenegro will start the negotiations with the EU in June. A view of Podgorica (file) Beta

EC "recognizes Montenegro's progress"

Fule and Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Lukšić agreed that the Montenegrin authorities' resolve to carry out "ambitious reforms, together with the active participation of the parliamentary opposition, civil society and the media, remains the key to success."

The European commissioner stressed that the national consensus about the country's European path is one of the key values of Montenegro in the process of Euro-integration, which should be preserved through all the phases of the pre-accession process.

He also said that, in keeping with the decisions of the European Council, the European Commission will present a report this spring on the implementation of recent reforms in Montenegro, especially focusing on the rule of law and fundamental rights. It will depend on this report whether Montenegro will start the negotiations with the EU in June.