Farewell visit of the Estonian Ambassador: Friendly and allied relations between the two countries reaffirmed

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović received a farewell visit from the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Montenegro, based in Budapest, H.E. Raul Toomas. During the meeting, the exceptionally friendly and allied relations between the two countries were reaffirmed, founded on shared European and Euro-Atlantic values. Particular emphasis was placed on the significance of Estonia being the first country with which Montenegro established diplomatic relations following the restoration of its independence in 2006. This milestone laid a strong foundation for a long-standing partnership, mutual trust, and continuous cooperation.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović thanked Estonia for its strong support for Montenegro’s European Union accession process, highlighting the importance of the expert assistance Estonia provides in the areas of public administration digitalization, the rule of law, cybersecurity, environmental protection, and the efficient use of European funds. In this context, Ivanović underscored the importance of further strengthening cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, taking into account Estonia’s extensive experience as one of Europe’s leaders in digital transformation and e-government development. The successful cooperation with the Estonian e-Governance Academy (eGA) was welcomed, as was Estonia’s support for projects aimed at enhancing the cyber resilience of the Western Balkan countries.

Ambassador Toomas expressed satisfaction with the progress Montenegro is making on its European path and reaffirmed Estonia’s readiness to continue providing expert support in areas where it possesses extensive knowledge and expertise. He also emphasized that Estonia will continue to consistently and strongly support the European Union’s enlargement policy, noting that the integration of the Western Balkan countries represents an important contribution to Europe’s stability and prosperity. Furthermore, Ambassador Toomas expressed confidence that Montenegro will continue to successfully implement reforms and achieve its goal of concluding negotiations with the European Union by the end of the year. The meeting also included discussions on strengthening parliamentary cooperation, regional initiatives, and coordination between the two countries within international organizations.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović thanked Ambassador Toomas for his dedicated engagement throughout his mandate, noting that bilateral relations had been further strengthened during that period. He also extended his best wishes for success in the Ambassador’s future professional and personal endeavors, expressing confidence that the friendly relations between Montenegro and Estonia will continue to develop in a spirit of mutual respect, dialogue, and partnership.