Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović held a meeting today with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Cristina Gherasimov, who is currently visiting Montenegro.

The discussions centered around the sharing of experiences in the realm of European integration. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović outlined Montenegro’s roadmap for concluding the EU negotiation chapters, aiming for their fulfillment by 2026. He underscored the significance of political commitment, an efficient public administration, and a skilled workforce in reaching this goal.

In this context, Ivanović conveyed key lessons from Montenegro’s reform initiatives and negotiation journey, emphasizing the primary challenges and effective strategies implemented thus far. He reiterated Montenegro’s willingness to extend full expert and technical assistance to Moldova, in the spirit of European solidarity. He also reaffirmed Montenegro’s strong endorsement of the EU enlargement policy, based on a meritocratic approach and the individual progress of every candidate country.

Deputy Prime Minister Gherasimov updated Ivanović on Moldova’s current EU integration status, indicating that the country is in the preliminary stages of the accession process. She mentioned that the screening phase is advancing positively and that there is robust political will to execute the essential reforms. She also highlighted the importance of learning from nations that have successfully navigated various stages of this process, recognizing Montenegro as a crucial partner and model.

Following their discussions, Ivanović and Gherasimov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding European Integration and the Accession Process, which establishes the groundwork for strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices at all levels of the EU negotiation process. As a leader among EU candidate countries, Montenegro will offer its expertise and experience to assist Moldova in this initial phase of accession.

This document acknowledges European integration as a mutual strategic aim and reasserts the commitment of both nations to the foundational values of the European Union – democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and sustainable development.

The Memorandum outlines a comprehensive array of activities, including collaboration on aligning national legislation with the EU acquis, public administration reform, institutional enhancement, efforts against corruption and organized crime, as well as collaborative projects under the Green Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, it envisions the organization of joint workshops, training sessions, negotiation team meetings, and study visits, along with the establishment of mechanisms for cooperative planning and execution of activities across the six negotiation clusters. In doing so, Montenegro and Moldova exhibit their dedication to expediting their journey towards full EU membership through mutual support and solidarity.

The signing ceremony was attended by Montenegro’s Minister of European Affairs Maida Gorčević and the Chief Negotiator with the EU Predrag Zenović.