Brussels, 17/10/2012 (Agence Europe) - Congratulating the coalition of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) on its victory in the parliamentary elections of 14 October, Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Füle has called on Montenegro to focus on its membership negotiations. “The country's leadership has now received a strong mandate to pursue the goal of EU membership with equal commitment. (…) With this popular mandate, the Montenegrin government now has a full term to pursue the work on the country's EU agenda”, he said on 16 October.
Füle highlighted the importance of maintaining consensus between the two actors concerned and of ensuring the inclusive character of the reform process in order to achieve the necessary progress in negotiations - which would allow confirmation of EU membership being “close at hand”.
According to the official results, the coalition around the DPS, which is pro-European, was in the lead in the elections and obtained 39 out of the 81 seats in parliament. The DPS is expected to form a majority with its allies from parties representing the minorities. (CG/transl.fl)