Ivanović: Montenegro's membership in the EU would confirm that enlargement is still relevant and feasible

Montenegro's membership in the European Union (EU) would confirm that the enlargement is still relevant and feasible, announced the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Filip Ivanović.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that Ivanovic participated, today in Vienna, in the meetings of the heads of diplomacy of the Group of Friends of the Western Balkans and the countries of the Western Balkans, which was hosted by the Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg.

The press release added that the Austrian foreign minister hosted his colleagues, the foreign ministers of the Group of Friends of the Western Balkans and the countries of the Western Balkans as part of the Forum Europe, held under the title "Restarting Europe".

The MFA said that from the ministerial meetings in Vienna, it was announced that Montenegro is a success story, and that it has made an important step forward that the member countries have recognized and confirmed.

"The full commitment of the Group of Friends to the affirmation of the European future of the Western Balkans was expressed, with the assessment that it is time for the EU enlargement policy to be confirmed by more significant developments in the negotiations. Along these lines, Montenegro's progress and fulfillment of the conditions for obtaining a positive IBAR were welcomed, as well as the announced Inter-Governmental Conference, which will be held next week under the Belgian presidency," said the MFA.

Ivanovic said that today, more than ever before, we believe in the EU, unity and the need to connect even more strongly under the auspices of the enlargement policy.

"Full membership in the European Union has always been an unquestionable strategic goal of Montenegro, the achievement of which would confirm that the enlargement is still relevant and feasible," Ivanovic said at the panel discussion entitled "EU enlargement to the Western Balkans - it's time to make it real ", at which the heads of diplomacy of the countries of the Western Balkans spoke.

He pointed out that initiatives such as the Group of Friends of the Western Balkans significantly contribute to fulfilling obligations and speeding up the negotiation process and thanked for the unequivocal political and expert support, which contributed to Montenegro making an important step forward, for itself, but also for the entire region.

"Speaking about the progress achieved in a short time in the implementation of key reforms, the minister emphasized that by receiving a positive IBAR at the upcoming Intergovernmental Conference, Montenegro would very quickly enter the final phase of negotiations and start closing a number of chapters that are already ready In the light of current geopolitical circumstances, he welcomed the decisive and clear political agenda of the EU institutions and member states, which is also reflected in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Within the Forum, a session devoted to the possibilities and importance of gradual accession to the European Union was held, which was opened by Shallenberg, and special thematic reviews were given by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borelj - on the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU and Minister Ivanovic - on the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

Ivanović pointed out the advantages and importance of enabling the candidate countries, according to the results they achieve, even before joining the EU, to feel certain benefits from membership.

He said that this mechanism, which he had previously talked about on several occasions at meetings with the ministers of foreign affairs of the EU and candidate countries, along the lines of the Growth Plan, as a way to better prepare countries for the implementation of EU policies.

"The growth plan is a clear indicator of the European Union's commitment to the economic, social and democratic transformation of the region, and its consistent application would significantly speed up overall development and prosperity, primarily through joining the single European market," Ivanovic said.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Ivanović met with the outgoing High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Jozep Borelj, who, as the MFA said, welcomed the excellent progress of Montenegro in the previous eight months, evaluating the realistic plan that Montenegro, as the most successful country, in the process of integration, it becomes the first next member of the EU.