Milatović: Steps taken towards potential closure of Chapter 31

Montenegro has fulfilled the technical aspects of Chapter 31, and steps have been taken in the past few weeks towards its potential closure, said Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović.

Milatović, answering a journalist's question after the conference "National Platform for the Prevention of Violent Extremism", recalled that he met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Odessa and requested on behalf of Montenegro that Croatia unblock the closure of Chapter 31.

He stressed that he hopes that this conversation with Plenkovic will bear fruit.

Milatović pointed out that in Chapter 31, Montenegro has fulfilled the technical aspects, as the European Commission noted, but due to certain bilateral matters, there is a blockage from Croatia.

"I think that the delegations of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and Croatia have had a few good conversations in the previous period, the arrival of Croatian President Zoran Milanović to Montenegro a few weeks ago and my conversation with Plenković were steps towards potentially closing the chapter," Milatović said.

He said that he is trying to do as much as he can, from the position of president, and there was a conversation with Plenković in that regard.