Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić paid an official visit to Berlin at the invitation of Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Both sides agreed that the two countries’ political cooperation is growing in intensity and content. Mr Steinmeier has said that Montenegro is a Western Balkans country that has made the most progress towards the EU, which is corroborated by the fact that two more negotiating chapters will soon be launched. He reiterated that the accession talks’ focus will remain on the key chapters, 23 and 24, in which substantial progress has been made so far, and he was hopeful that in the time to come the emphasis will be put on concrete implementation, which is in Montenegro’s best interest.
At the level of Euro-Atlantic integration, Mr Steinmeier underlined Germany’s support for Montenegro’s NATO integration, at the same time commending the efforts in this regard and stressing the need for further implementation of the Membership Action Plan with the Cardiff summit decisions in mind.
In addition to EU and NATO, Mr Lukšić and his German counterpart also spoke about Montenegro’s view on the topics such as Sutorina and the developments related to solving the issue of Prevlaka.
The two officials discussed regional and international developments. Mr Steinmeier voiced gratitude and respect for Montenegro regarding its alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy.
With Christoph Heusgen, German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s advisor for foreign policy and security Mr Lukšić spoke about Montenegro’s further progress towards NATO membership and in that regard Mr Heusgen reiterated once more Berlin’s readiness to intensify cooperation in the future. The two officials discussed EU integration and current development in the regions and the world.
