Zuzana Mikalkova Sutiakova, the Head of the Department for South-Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans at the European External Action Service (EEAS), emphasized the importance for Montenegro to stay committed to adopting legislation aligned with the European agenda.

During her official visit to Montenegro, Sutiakova held discussions today with Marko Marković, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Defense.

As noted by the Ministry of Defense, she commended Montenegro’s advancements on its path to EU integration.

According to the statement, “Sutiakova highlighted that the priority now is for Montenegro to keep concentrating on enacting laws from the European agenda.”

Sutiakova pointed out that social cohesion and collaboration among all parties engaged in the integration process are essential, along with a geostrategic direction rooted in shared values.

Marković underscored that Sutiakova’s visit serves as further proof of the EU’s commitment to the Western Balkans and acknowledges the accomplishments Montenegro has made thus far.

He expressed that the encouraging signals from leading European officials motivate Montenegro to persist with comprehensive reforms aimed at fulfilling the country’s foremost foreign policy objective—EU membership.

According to the statement, “Marković remarked that Montenegro has made notable strides in the negotiation process, which is supported by a positive evaluation of the interim benchmarks (IBAR) for chapters 23 and 24, and the recent closure of three negotiation chapters.”

Marković stated that the goal is for Montenegro to finalize its negotiations and secure EU membership by 2028, contingent upon consistent reforms.

He highlighted the widespread support for EU membership in Montenegro, as demonstrated by public opinion polls.

Marković also informed Sutiakova that alongside establishing credible NATO membership and progressing in the European integration process, enhancing good neighborly relations and regional cooperation remains a key priority for the Government of Montenegro, as regional stability is essential for a stable and prosperous Europe.

The statement revealed that Marković and Sutiakova discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Montenegro and the EU, utilizing available EU instruments and focusing on common defense and security policy.

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