The Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić and the Minister of the Interior Danilo Šaranović had a productive meeting with Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, during their official visit to Brussels.

Commissioner Lahbib expressed her contentment with the discussions and congratulated Montenegro on its successes, conveying optimism for ongoing advancements. She remarked, “Congratulations, you are a frontrunner on the path to the European Union, and this is an ambition we must achieve together.”

Deputy Prime Minister Bečić reflected on his previous discussions with Commissioner Lahbib shortly after the establishment of the 44th Government, where she held the position of Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in anticipation of the country’s Presidency of the EU Council.

“The moment we took office was quite challenging. We inherited a nearly stagnant European integration process and faced many institutional hurdles. Nonetheless, we emphasized that through diligence, we could realize substantial changes—and that is precisely what transpired. During Belgium’s Presidency, aided by your dedicated and amicable approach, we achieved a historical milestone by receiving IBAR, and by year-end, we successfully closed three negotiation chapters after seven years of stagnation. We will continue to progress on the European path because this is a generational and historical opportunity that surpasses any political or personal interests, which must not be overlooked,” Bečić underscored, also acknowledging advancements in disaster protection and response.

The Ministry of the Interior has met all obligations under Chapter 27 and within the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The successful organization of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Europe and Central Asia, held in Montenegro a few months ago and attended by delegations from approximately 50 countries, exemplifies our nation’s progress in this sector, stated the Deputy Prime Minister.

Minister Šaranović highlighted the considerable assistance received from the EU, stating, “Through various programmes and projects, we have had the chance to train personnel in the protection and rescue system for timely and effective responses, as well as to acquire essential equipment, primarily for flood and fire protection and rescue operations.”

According to Minister Šaranović, the Ministry’s capabilities will be further bolstered with the procurement of an additional helicopter. “We have applied for funding through the call issued by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), and we anticipate a response by the summer,” he noted.