"I hope you see that Montenegro is already acting as a future member of the European Union (EU), "said the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milojko Spajić, to representatives of EU member states today.
The Government announced that Spajić spoke today in Brussels at the Intergovernmental Conference on Montenegro's Accession to the EU, which, as he pointed out, marks another decisive step forward on Montenegro's European path.
"By closing five chapters today in addition to Chapter 5, which was provisionally closed in June, we are fulfilling the promise we made last December - that the Government of Montenegro will redouble its efforts and end 2025 by closing twice as many chapters," Spajić emphasized.
DON'T MISS IT
He added that since receiving the IBAR, Montenegro has successfully sought to maintain a careful and responsible balance, namely "to continue strengthening the rule of law as a foundation of the European project, while simultaneously achieving concrete progress in other technical chapters, following the plan agreed with the Commission."
"In a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable, we hope that this achievement will encourage others not to shy away from difficult reforms or the exhausting task of building democratic consensus and institutions," said Spajić.
The statement says that Spajić referred to the latest annual report of the European Commission and noted that the reforms that have been implemented have a direct positive impact on the lives of Montenegrin citizens, and that they significantly modernize Montenegrin institutions and strengthen the resilience of Montenegrin society.
The government said that Spajić "expressed gratitude to the European Commission and the EU member states whose strong political support and technical assistance have restored confidence in the enlargement policy - both among us and other candidates."
"We hope that now you can all see that Montenegro already thinks and acts as a future member state – fully aligned with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, with 100% alignment from the first day of negotiations, strategically planning and responsibly reforming sectoral policies. With today's provisional closure of five chapters, we confirm that Montenegro's European future is not a distant aspiration, but a process that is firmly underway — guided by responsibility, driven by reforms and founded on the common interests of peace, growth and prosperity," Spajić said.
The statement states that in the continuation of his address, Spajić referred to progress in chapters 3, 4, 6, 11 and 13: the right to establish a company and the freedom to provide services, the free movement of capital, company law, agriculture and fisheries.
He told the participants of the Intergovernmental Conference that Montenegro is ready to answer all questions, accept support and criticism, and remain founded on common values and rules.
"We hope that today you will convey a clear message to your capitals — that Montenegro remains a reliable and responsible partner, fully committed to meritorious progress towards membership in the European Union," Spajić concluded in his address.
Bonus video:
