If you want a safe Europe, the expansion of the European Union (EU) to the Western Balkans, as well as Ukraine and Moldova, is necessary, Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević announced in Prague.
She participated today at the GLOBSEC 2024 Forum, on the panel entitled "Put before us: key priorities for the new EU leadership".
Gorčević said that she was pleased by the fact that the EU supports the efforts of candidate countries towards membership, but that it is important for everyone in the region to understand "that we are implementing reforms not only for membership, but primarily for the benefit of our citizens".
"That is why it is important that we increase our efforts, work harder and better so that our citizens feel the benefits even before joining the membership," said Gorčević.
She said that, although there are many challenges on the European path, both in terms of the lack of experts and financial resources, the Government is determined to speed up reforms so that Montenegro becomes the 2028th member state of the EU in 28, "especially bearing in mind that around 80 percent citizens want it".
"We in Montenegro believe in European values and we are sure that our place is in the EU. As this goal is getting closer, our motivation and determination to become the next member of the EU, in the mandate of this Government, is getting stronger", said Gorčević.
Gorčević pointed out the importance of respecting the principle of progress in accordance with the achieved results, pointing out that Montenegro, as a leader in the process, will continue to provide support to its neighbors and encourage the acceleration of the integration of the entire region into the EU.
Apart from Gorčević, the Minister of European Affairs of the Czech Republic, Martin Dvoržak, the State Secretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Marko Štucin, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of European Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Kristijan Danijelson, participated in the panel.
"The panel was an opportunity for the interlocutors to exchange opinions on enlargement policy, the contribution of candidate countries to EU security, as well as stagnation in the process of enlargement and the admission of new members," the announcement states.
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