Montenegro's minister for European integration expects Podgorica to be granted EU candidate status by mid December. Responding to a question from Serbian daily Blic about the date on which officials expect the status to be granted, Minister Gordana Djurovic said: "We expect that to happen on December 16 at the session of the European Council." She added that Podgorica has taken a number of steps since the European Commission recommended that Montenegro be granted candidate status in November this year. "We have translated all of the documents and placed them on the Internet site. We have prepared analysis of the regions and recommendations.
"We have drafted the initial information which was adopted by the government and which concerns the preparation of the action plan for the implementation of the recommendations given in the European Commission opinion." Explaining that the government has set specific short-term deadlines, Djurovic said that by mid December Podgorica will have a clear roadmap for moving foward with its EU integration process. While noting Montenegro's steps toward further integration, the minister also acknowledged that "Serbia is the biggest wagon" pulling the region towards the EU, adding that for precisely that reason Belgrade "must not obstruct" other countries on their paths towards the bloc.
Addressing Montenegro's NATO membership bid, Djurovic explained that the key goals of integration are common to both the EU and the military alliance, including security, stability, economic prosperity and common democratic values. "We have a clear roadmap towards membership in NATO and we are moving along it," the minister said.
"We have drafted the initial information which was adopted by the government and which concerns the preparation of the action plan for the implementation of the recommendations given in the European Commission opinion." Explaining that the government has set specific short-term deadlines, Djurovic said that by mid December Podgorica will have a clear roadmap for moving foward with its EU integration process. While noting Montenegro's steps toward further integration, the minister also acknowledged that "Serbia is the biggest wagon" pulling the region towards the EU, adding that for precisely that reason Belgrade "must not obstruct" other countries on their paths towards the bloc.
Addressing Montenegro's NATO membership bid, Djurovic explained that the key goals of integration are common to both the EU and the military alliance, including security, stability, economic prosperity and common democratic values. "We have a clear roadmap towards membership in NATO and we are moving along it," the minister said.
News source: BalkanInsight link: article
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