The accession of countries to the European Union (EU) must be based on merit, said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, stating that bilateralization of the process does not help anyone.
As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs, Gorčević said this at the GLOBSEC forum in Prague, which brings together high-ranking officials, experts and leaders from Europe and the world.
Gorčević presented Montenegro's positions in the context of European integration, institutional reforms and economic cooperation.
It is stated that Gorčević, at the panel "Simplify, Protect, Strengthen: The EU's Way Forward", spoke about the need to modernize decision-making within the EU, strengthen democratic resilience, and enlargement as a key factor in security on the continent.
Responding to the question of who the next EU member is, Gorčević emphasized that it is Montenegro, "primarily due to meeting the criteria and the progress it has made in the negotiation process."
Speaking about the different views and disagreements among member states in interpreting the progress of individual candidates, Gorčević emphasized that accession must be based on merit, and that bilateralization of the process does not help anyone.
"The announcements of non-papers from Slovenia and Germany may be a good direction for further shaping the enlargement process, but Montenegro wants unanimity from all 27 members regarding the recognition of its successes," said Gorčević.
As announced by the Ministry, Gorčević, during the second day of the Forum, participated in a special session "Beyond Borders: Advancing European Economic Integration of the Balkans", which discussed concrete steps to strengthen the economic dimension of the accession process - including harmonization with the rules of the EU single market, liberalization of capital flows, the fight against money laundering and improving the investment climate in the region.
Gorčević stated that regional cooperation and strengthening interconnections are the key to unlocking the full potential of the Western Balkans.
According to her, initiatives such as the Growth Plan for the region offer a historic opportunity to accelerate economic integration into the EU, improve infrastructure connectivity, and attract sustainable investments that bring tangible benefits to citizens.
"Cooperation between the countries of the region must not be the exception, but become the rule - because only through a joint, coordinated approach can we build a competitive, stable and European future for the entire region," said Gorčević.
Gorčević, as announced, had a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Forum, including meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković, Serbia Nemanja Starović, Bulgaria Georgi Georgiev, as well as the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania Ana Cristina Tinka.
It is stated that, in talks with officials from Bulgaria and Romania, she received confirmation that Montenegro can expect support from these countries in the final phase of membership negotiations.
The Ministry announced that Gorčević exchanged views with Konaković and Starović on key issues of the accession process, regional cooperation and the common European future of the countries of the region.
"By participating in the GLOBSEC forum, Minister Gorčević once again confirmed Montenegro's strong commitment to its European future and active role in regional and European cooperation," the statement said.
Bonus video:
