Brussels, 06/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Montenegro “is in a position to take on the obligations arising from medium term accession in most acquis fields”, European affairs ministers state in their conclusions of Monday 5 December. They also state that the country has reached an important level of compliance with accession criteria, especially political criteria but also economic criteria. They welcomed the opinion of the European Commission on Montenegro's “satisfactory” progress, especially in the priorities set out by the EU in 2010 with a view to opening accession talks, for which the date is to be decided on Friday 9 December during the European Council. Ministers also underlined that full application of the reforms, especially in the key field of rule of law, is essential and that efforts to set reforms in place will be vital throughout the negotiation process for Montenegro's accession to the EU. (CG/transl.jl)