Babiš hosts Spajić in Prague, Montenegro as the 28th EU member will strengthen the Union

Montenegro's accession to the European Union will strengthen the EU and bring benefits to both sides, was the key message from the meeting between Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš and Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić.

During their talks at the Kramář's Villa in Prague, the two leaders reaffirmed their shared objective of Montenegro joining the European Union in 2028. They agreed that Montenegro would be fully prepared for membership upon accession, standing alongside the continent's most developed countries and contributing to a stronger European Union.

We are with you on this journey, and you can continue to count on our support every step of the way, Czech Prime Minister Babiš said during the meeting. At the subsequent press conference, he stressed that Montenegro is ready for EU membership and that the time has come for it to become part of the Union.

Prime Minister Spajić comes from the business sector, which I believe is an important asset in politics. His Government is competent and delivers results. Montenegro has a bright future and the best prospects for joining the European Union. I firmly believe it will become a member in 2028. I truly believe it will succeed, Babiš concluded.

The final stage of Montenegro's accession negotiations also presents an opportunity to further strengthen the traditionally strong bilateral relations between Montenegro and the Czech Republic. The defence cooperation agreement has already produced its first concrete outcome through the signing of an Implementation Agreement, enabling the modernisation of Montenegro's defence capabilities through new equipment and the renowned expertise of the Czech defence industry. This also opens new opportunities for Montenegro's economy to cooperate with one of Europe's traditionally strongest defence industries.

The efficient cooperation between our administrations has enabled the rapid implementation of this cooperation, and we are very grateful for that. The economy also offers great potential for bringing our countries even closer together, and we look forward to new joint projects with the Czech Republic that will benefit the citizens of both countries, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said.

In the context of strengthening economic ties, both sides underlined the importance of regularly holding the Montenegro–Czech Business Forum, which facilitates direct contacts between business communities. They also noted that seasonal direct flights between Podgorica and Prague, Tivat and Brno, and Tivat and Prague contribute to closer people-to-people ties, expressing their commitment to creating conditions for additional direct flights in the future.

I expect our cooperation in defence, as well as in other areas, to continue developing dynamically. There is enormous potential to strengthen our economic ties, and direct flights play a key role in that. They currently operate during the summer season, but we will work hard to ensure they continue throughout the winter as well. The Czech Republic is an important partner because it has successfully completed its European integration process, transformed its economy and advanced in every respect. We want to learn from that experience and become equally successful, Prime Minister Spajić said.

The meeting concluded with the assessment that the planned opening of Montenegro's Embassy in Prague, expected by the end of the year, will represent another significant step towards strengthening the ties between Montenegro and the Czech Republic.