Munich: DPM Lukšić speaks at round table “Montenegro on the road to EU membership – opportunities and challenges”

Podgorica, Montenegro (30 January 2014) -- During his official visit to Munich, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić spoke at the round table “Montenegro on the road to EU membership – opportunities and challenges” at the invitation of the Southeast Europe Association.

The invitation to discuss, in one of the EU founding countries, the current and future challenges Montenegro faces and will face on its EU path is a sign of friendly support to Montenegro’s European ambition, but also an encouragement to take on the upcoming obligations responsibly, Deputy Prime Minister Lukšić said.

Mr Lukšić informed the participants of the current phase of Montenegro’s accession negotiations, the past activities which were very demanding, such as the establishment of the negotiation structure which comprises 1300 people, of which a third comes from the civil society, and the successful completion of the analytical overview of the 33 negotiation chapters.

“The formula of success is to exchange experience with those who went through the processes before us. At the same time, we offer a good example, we encourage and offer help to those that will follow, and hopefully soon join us in this most demanding phase of the process,” Mr Lukšić said.

“I am certain that the accession of all Western Balkan countries to the European Union will allow us to speak not only of enlargement, but of a successful rounding up of the European Union project, allowing us to conclude we have reached long-term stability and prosperity in Europe. EU is the framework under which Montenegro can best overcome all its challenges, and at the same time utilise all its potential,” Mr Lukšić noted in his address.

The topic was also discussed by experts from various fields. After the addresses, a discussion took place on the current state of affairs in Montenegro and some of the topics were media freedoms, regional, EU, and global cooperation, investment, and opportunities for economic cooperation.

On the first day of his visit, DPM Lukšić met with prominent representatives of the chambers commerce of Munich and Upper Bavaria – President Dr Eberhard Sasse and executive director Peter Driessen.

The meeting focused on the importance of rekindling the successful economic cooperation from the past in the area of metal industry, as well as on the establishment of cooperation in other key areas, such as tourism, agriculture, and energy.

The officials discussed the importance of presenting investment potentials of Montenegro, which should take place in Munich in cooperation with the chamber of commerce.

They also discussed the prospective visits to Montenegro by German companies, which would enable them to learn about the opportunities for investment and cooperation. A possibility was noted to organise training of the labour-force in Germany to enable them to work in German companies.

Representatives of the chambers of commerce welcomed Montenegro’s decision to open a Consulate General in Munich, whose primary tasks will be to promote Montenegro’s economic interests, develop, and rekindle cooperation, with the view to ensuring further growth of our economic, cultural, and scientific ties, as well as to protect the interests of Montenegrin expats living in Bavaria.

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