EU High Representative Kaja Kallas visited Montenegro on Monday 7 April, her first visit to the Western Balkans since taking office.
In particular, she met several associations and representatives of civil society, as well as the President, Jakov Milatović, and the Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić.
“The previous year was the most successful for Montenegro in terms of accession negotiations” said Mr Spajić at a joint press conference.
“This puts us in a good place for this year and next. We look forward to June and July for the Intergovernmental Conference and the closing of the chapters”, he declared.
Montenegro closed three additional chapters at an intergovernmental conference last December (see EUROPE 13547/2).
The High Representative, for her part, expressed her “satisfaction” with the commitments and progress made by Montenegro, particularly in the area of security: “A prepayment of more than €26 million will be made to Montenegro as of this month for the reforms”, she said.
Later in the day, at a presentation of equipment funded by a 6 million euro European Peace Facility (EPF) support measure (EUROPE 13590/15), the High Representative announced that in the coming weeks a detailed list of Montenegro's specific military needs would be created “so that we can continue to provide the right support”.
This will be in addition to the €6 million in support earmarked for the Balkan Medical Task Force via the EPF (EUROPE 12969/28). “We will provide medical vehicles, field hospitals, tents and emergency heating systems. Most of the aid will arrive in the course of this year”, announced Kaja Kallas.
Kaja Kallas is visiting Albania on Tuesday 8 April, where she is due to meet the President, Bajram Begaj, and the Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and together open the first EU-Albania dialogue on security and defence.
She will end her tour of the Balkans in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday 9 April, with a meeting with the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmedin Konaković. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)