Milatović with Von der Leyen: It is important to put an end to the negative trends on the internal level that could threaten the European path

SOURCE: ANTENA M / AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The topic of conversation was the country's further progress on the European path.
Milatović said that Montenegro is a positive story for both the European Union and the region, which is why it is in mutual interest that the intense pace of closing the chapter after the IBAR is obtained, is necessary for the country to achieve its goal and become the 28th EU member state by 2028. .
"By the end of the year, we expect to close four negotiation chapters, but Montenegro can and must do better if we want to fulfill our goal and close the remaining 30 chapters by 2026. We must not be satisfied with results that are below the expectations, primarily of the citizens of our country. I am convinced that our country's membership in the EU would be an important positive signal for other candidate countries as well," said Milatović.
He pointed out that the constant presence of the EC and close cooperation in fulfilling specific obligations from the accession negotiations is necessary, so that during the process the essence is not neglected in the form of continuous strengthening of the rule of law and respect for democratic procedures.
"We don't want to undo the earlier achievements we reached during the process, and therefore it is important to detect and stop negative trends on the internal level in time that could threaten our European path," said Milatović.
Expressing satisfaction with the adoption of the Reform Agenda of Montenegro 2024-2027. for the EU Instrument for Reforms and Growth, he assessed that the Growth Plan can present to the citizens of our country in a tangible way all the concrete advantages of the country's membership in the EU.
He announced that, together with his team, he keeps the focus on the EU agenda and uses every opportunity to urge the relevant actors on the internal level to stay up to the task and make a move away from worrisome practices.
Milatović concluded that, with the desire for Montenegro to take advantage of the current momentum of the enlargement policy, the temporary closure of four more chapters: 7 - Intellectual property law, 10 - Information society and media, 20 - Entrepreneurship and industrial policy, 31 - Foreign, security and defense politics, using the example of our country to show that enlargement policy remains at the top of the EU agenda, and that the enlargement process is alive and based on merit.
He thanked President Von der Leyen for her support to Montenegro so far, as well as for all the united efforts on our European path that still await us, guided by a common goal.