The merit-based approach must remain the only credible framework for further progress towards membership in the European Union, agreed Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović and Minister for Europe at the German Federal Foreign Office Günter Krichbaum.
Continuing his activities at the Munich Security Conference, Ivanovic discussed with Krichbaum Montenegro's progress in the European integration process, "confirming that Montenegro remains the leader in the negotiation process," the Deputy Prime Minister's office announced.
"The interlocutors agreed that the merit-based approach must remain the only credible framework for further progress towards EU membership, which Montenegro is successfully fulfilling," the statement reads.
The meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Petr Macinka, discussed the improvement of bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of European integration, infrastructure projects and economic cooperation. The readiness of the Czech Republic to continue providing expert and political support to the reform process of Montenegro, while strengthening institutional ties between the two countries, was emphasized.
In a conversation with Adis Ahmetović, a member of the German Bundestag and foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, the perspectives of the European Union's enlargement policy and projections in that regard for Montenegro were discussed. "Ahmetović expressed full support for Montenegro's European path, highlighting it as the most advanced country in the enlargement process and emphasizing the importance of preserving the credibility of the enlargement policy in the coming period," the statement added.
Ivanovic also spoke with the UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel, with whom he exchanged views on the political and security situation in the Western Balkans and the role of the UK in global political processes.
As part of the conference's program, Ivanovic also attended the Ewald von Kleist Award ceremony, as well as a gala dinner organized for participants of the Munich Security Conference, which "traditionally represents a space for informal meetings and exchange of opinions among high-ranking officials and forum participants," his office reminded.
On the sidelines of the conference, on the second day, Ivanovic also had brief talks with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Cahn, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Tanja Fajon.
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