Brussels, 19/10/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU will handle Montenegro's application for accession “in a fair and objective manner”, the permanent president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said in Podgorica on 19 October after a meeting with the Montenegrin prime minister, Milo Djukanovic. The European Commission is assessing the country's request to join the EU and will present its “opinion” on 10 November. Van Rompuy also called on the Montenegrin authorities to continue reforms “with determination”. It is crucial for the EU that the country should make sustainable progress in reform of the judicial sector, strengthened rule of law and the fight against corruption and organised crime, Van Rompuy said. The permanent president of the European Council is to continue his trip to the Western Balkans with visits to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania (for details, see EUROPE 10238). (H.B./transl.jl)