Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović held a meeting today with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, during the Yerevan Dialogue 2025 event.

They discussed various issues of mutual concern, with a strong emphasis on Montenegro’s process of European integration. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović expressed his appreciation for France’s ongoing and unwavering support of Montenegro’s EU aspirations, highlighting the valuable contributions of French experts within the Montenegrin administration, which enhances institutional capabilities during the EU accession process.

Minister Barrot praised Montenegro’s advancements on its European journey, calling it the most advanced candidate country for EU membership. He reiterated France’s commitment to providing further assistance to Montenegro’s accession efforts—both politically and through expert involvement—to expedite the integration process.

The dialogue also centered on the broad bilateral cooperation between the two nations, notably in the areas of defense, healthcare, energy, environmental protection, and the economy. Both parties acknowledged that this is a period of heightened engagement between Montenegro and France, expressing optimism that collaboration in key sectors would soon be formalized through appropriate legal agreements.

The significance of establishing the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Centre (WB3C) in Podgorica was also highlighted. This Centre serves as a regional center for knowledge and collaboration in cybersecurity, established through the joint efforts of Montenegro, France, and Slovenia.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing political dialogue and strengthening the strategic partnership between Montenegro and France.