“Twenty years ago, the world witnessed a bold and visionary Europe where the ‘Big Bang’ enlargement brought peace and prosperity to both the EU and the ten new member states. Today, I am here to tell my EU colleagues that Montenegro has the same courage and vision. One additional lesson we have all learned in the meantime is that lasting peace and prosperity can only be achieved by protecting our dynamic democracies and guaranteeing the rule of law,” said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević.
She participated in an informal meeting of Ministers of European Affairs (GAC) in Brussels today. The Minister emphasized that Montenegrins are working hard to prove that, with our approach, the EU can have ‘net zero’ enlargement. She highlighted the Government’s determination to make Montenegro ready for membership by the end of its mandate.
“On this path, there are no shortcuts or privileges, nor do we expect any. Our progress is and will be a reflection of our work and the results we demonstrate. Only in this way can we make our country and society politically, economically, and financially prepared to be compatible and sustainable within the EU family,” said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević.
Minister Gorčević presented the current state of Montenegro’s EU accession process and future activities related to the preparation and implementation of the Reform Agenda for the EU Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.
Speaking about the implementation of obligations in the area of rule of law, Gorčević said that, in addition to adopting strategic and legislative acts in the areas of judiciary, anti-corruption, and organized crime, it is crucial to build public trust in the legal system and raise awareness about the importance of the rule of law as a key element on which progress in all other areas depends.
“I believe that coordinated cooperation between the Government, Parliament, and the judiciary is essential for progress in this area. We have demonstrated this in the recent short term and hope it will continue throughout the negotiation process,” said Gorčević.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of EU financial support through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and expressed the expectation that the application of this instrument will ensure the reduction of the socio-economic gap between EU member states and the Western Balkans and accelerate reform processes on the path to the EU.
“The Growth Plan sends a message to citizens, whose support for the EU accession process is almost 80%, that EU accession is an economic story that will significantly impact their daily lives. Besides financial and technical support, there are also EC experts whose knowledge and expertise greatly help us in the negotiation process, and they will be especially needed in the process of closing negotiation chapters,” said Gorčević.
The Minister stated that the high support of Montenegrin citizens for EU membership is a strong incentive for the Government to seize the historical moment in the current geopolitical context, intensify reforms, and speed up the accession process.
“Our citizens expect a higher level of political stability, democracy, and rule of law, greater employment opportunities, the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises, young people want education in other EU member states, cultural interaction, and exchange. I believe that the reforms we are implementing, with strong support from EU programs and funds, will accelerate our economic progress and bring a better life to our citizens,” concluded Gorčević.
Ministers of European Affairs from EU member states welcomed the strong reform momentum and the results achieved by the Government in a short period. They emphasized the importance of Montenegro continuing to meet criteria, particularly in the area of rule of law and reaching EU standards. They also agreed that it is a joint obligation of the EU and regional countries to maintain the momentum of enlargement and expressed full support for Montenegro in accelerating reforms.
