Gorčević: Political support from EU members is crucial for trust in the EU enlargement process

Political support from member states is key to maintaining trust in the European Union (EU) enlargement process, said Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević, adding that the results Montenegro is achieving in the negotiations show that it is ready to assume the obligations of EU membership.

As announced by the Ministry of European Affairs (MEP), Gorčević said this in a conversation with the State Secretary for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Ines Domingos.

It is stated that the meeting assessed that the enlargement policy is an important strategic step towards strengthening the EU and candidate countries, and that Portugal strongly supports Montenegro's European future.

Gorčević said that political support from member states is crucial for maintaining trust in the enlargement process.

"The results that Montenegro is achieving, including progress in closing negotiation chapters, show that we are ready to assume the obligations that come with our country's membership in the EU," said Gorčević.

Domingos emphasized that Montenegro has the full support of Portugal on its path to EU membership.

"Portugal remains a strong and consistent advocate of the enlargement policy, as we believe that it strengthens both the EU and the countries that are joining it. Montenegro has our full support on its path to membership, including the next steps in preparing the Accession Treaty," said Domingos.

According to the statement, Gorčević and Domingos discussed opportunities for further strengthening cooperation, especially in the areas of healthcare, the maritime sector, and the development of advanced technologies.

"Potential technical support from Portugal in the energy sector and strengthening the resilience of the energy system were discussed," the statement said, adding that the importance of strengthening resilience to hybrid threats and combating disinformation was also highlighted.

MEPs said that the meeting highlighted the importance of the European Democracy Shield initiative, as an important mechanism for protecting democratic processes, as well as the need for continuous information to citizens about all aspects of European integration.

"The interlocutors concluded that there is significant room for further deepening cooperation and exchange of experiences, with a shared assessment that Montenegro's European perspective is important, both for the stability of the region and for the overall strength of the EU," the statement said.