Brussels, 23/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - Prime Minister of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic announced on Monday 23 June that his country would apply to join the EU before the end of the year. Speaking to press after meeting Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Djukanovic said, however, that the “exact timing” would only be decided “following consultation of European partners” and the European Commission. The Montenegrin government has just adopted a national European integration programme which will see the country fully ready to join the EU at the end of 2012, Djukanovic said. He said, too, that he thought Montenegro would have met all the conditions for visa liberalisation with the EU by the end of 2008. Commissioner Rehn congratulated Montenegro for its “European commitment” and its reforms, but stressed that there would have to be further effort in four key areas: improving administrative capacity, the rule of law, tackling corruption and combating organised crime. (H.B./transl.rt)