Pejović, Crnadak: Cooperation Agreement signing to faster progress towards EU

Podgorica, Montenegro (14 February 2017) -- Minister of European Affairs Aleksandar Andrija Pejović met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Igor Crnadak.

The officials highlighted the importance of cooperation strengthening in the EU accession process, especially through the exchange of experiences in the areas of harmonisation of legislation with the EU Acquis, preparation and implementation of strategic documents in the framework of the accession process, coordination and management of the accession negotiations, as well as the development of administrative capacity for the EU accession process.

In this context, they stressed the importance of today's Cooperation Agreement signing between the two countries for the EU accession process, that will define a number of areas of cooperation, such as: implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy; economic and trade cooperation; movement of labor, capital and trade in services; justice and internal affairs; maintaining peace and stability in the region and strengthening regional cooperation; energy security in the region and environmental protection.

Minister Pejović stated that Montenegro will make available its knowledge and experience from the accession process to its colleagues from Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the direction of more efficient implementation of reforms and faster progression of this country towards EU membership. In this regard, he pointed out that the establishment of the Joint Committee of the two countries in the context of EU accession, which is to follow, will be an excellent mechanism for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the EU accession process, through dialogue and regular meetings between the institutions in charge of European Affairs.

Minister Crnadak thanked Montenegro for an excellent cooperation and support in the accession process, pointing out that the experience of Montenegrin institutions and the negotiating team is an important and useful guideline for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of implementing comprehensive reforms on the path towards EU membership.

The officials also exchanged their opinions on cooperation in the field of EU funds usage, especially through an implemented valuable cross-border cooperation programmes as well as regional projects in the framework of the Berlin Process.