On March 19, 2025, political consultations took place in Podgorica between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro and the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria.

The discussions were led by State Secretary, Ambassador Periša Kastratović for Montenegro, and Secretary General Nikolas Marschik for Austria.

During the consultations, Austria reaffirmed its strong support for Montenegro’s ongoing European journey, emphasizing both political and expert assistance in vital areas of the reform agenda. It was highlighted that Montenegro is positioned as a leader in European integration, with Austria expressing enthusiasm for our country joining the EU.

The participants concluded that the accession of another country to the Union would validate the commitment to the enlargement policy and provide a robust incentive for other candidate nations to achieve significant progress in the integration process.

It was acknowledged that the diplomatic initiatives spearheaded by Austria, a knowledgeable observer of the Western Balkans, have significantly contributed to the region’s stability and European integration in recent years.

The discussions also reflected a mutual readiness to enhance economic cooperation, noting that Austrian companies in Montenegro exemplify successful business ventures. Both parties committed to collaborating on attracting new investments in sectors of shared interest, such as infrastructure, energy, and tourism.

Additionally, discussions included exchanges of views on current EU topics, as well as other regional and global matters.