Brussels, 20/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Member States have agreed to ask the European Commission to prepare its "opinion" on Montenegro's accession application. The formal decision to continue with the procedure provided for by article 49 Treaty (and to call for the opinion of the Commission) will be taken on Thursday 23 April by the Agriculture Council (point A, no discussion). Montenegro's application, which was presented on 15 December 2008, had been stuck in the working group of the Council, as a number of Member States (particularly the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Luxembourg) took the view that the time was not right to move the dossier forward (EUROPE 9862). The correct unfolding of the Parliamentary elections in Montenegro (29 March) and the fact that the European Commission has agreed not to present its opinion for 12 months seem to have facilitated the consensus required in the Council. The following declaration of the annex to the decision: "the Commission intends to present its opinion during the year 2010". (H.B./transl.fl)