On the inaugural day of his official trip to Italy, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić held meetings not only with the President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni, but also with the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella.

The recent uptick in high-level engagements — including President Mattarella’s visit to Montenegro and Prime Minister Spajić’s trip to Rome — clearly indicates that the robust bilateral ties between the two nations are progressing positively.

We already envision you as a member of the European Union. Given all that you have accomplished in such a brief period, Montenegro rightly anticipates becoming a full member shortly, President Mattarella noted.

He extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Spajić in Italy and reaffirmed Italy’s enduring commitment to the welfare of the Western Balkans.

The European Union serves as a stabilizing element in the region, and Montenegro is at the forefront of reconciliation and advancement — for which you have Italy’s unwavering support, emphasized Mattarella.

Prime Minister Spajić briefed the Italian President about the Government’s initiatives to expedite the European agenda and reiterated Montenegro’s expectation to finalize EU accession negotiations by the end of 2026, aiming for membership during Italy’s Presidency in 2028.

We are ambitious and dedicated. For us, European integration is not just a goal, but a transformative journey that strengthens and fortifies our society. We are prepared to tackle all challenges, Spajić asserted.

The two leaders exchanged perspectives on current global challenges, agreeing that to bolster resilience against unpredictable global economic shifts, the already strong political bonds between Montenegro and Italy should be supplemented by enhanced economic collaboration.

In this regard, the forthcoming Business Forum, agreed upon with Prime Minister Meloni, is anticipated to further stimulate cooperation among large corporations as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, which, as acknowledged by both parties, are poised to seize valuable opportunities through this initiative.

The discussion also encompassed collaboration in the areas of culture and education, with a focus on improving university-level partnerships between the two countries.

Prime Minister Spajić will continue his discussions with Italy’s key officials tomorrow, starting with talks with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Lorenzo Fontana, followed by a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani.