Ivanović and Gherasimov sign Memorandum of Cooperation: Montenegro and Moldova strengthen partnership on the path to the EU

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović met today with Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Cristina Gherasimov, who is paying a visit to Montenegro.

The meeting focused on the exchange of experiences in the field of European integration. Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović presented Montenegro’s roadmap for closing the EU negotiation chapters, aiming for their completion by 2026. He emphasized the importance of political commitment, a functional public administration, and skilled human resources in achieving this objective.

In that context, Ivanović shared key insights from Montenegro’s reform efforts and negotiation process, highlighting the main challenges and effective mechanisms applied so far. He reiterated Montenegro’s readiness to provide full expert and technical support to Moldova, in the spirit of European solidarity. He also reaffirmed Montenegro’s strong support for the EU enlargement policy, grounded in the merit-based approach and the individual progress of each candidate country.

Deputy Prime Minister Gherasimov briefed Ivanović on the current status of Moldova’s EU integration, noting that the country is in the early stages of the accession process. She stated that the screening process is progressing well and that there is strong political will to implement the necessary reforms. She also underlined the importance of learning from countries that have already advanced through various stages of the process, identifying Montenegro as a valuable partner and example.

Following the meeting, Ivanović and Gherasimov signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the Field of European Integration and Accession Process, which lays the foundation for deepening bilateral relations and intensifying the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices at all stages of the EU negotiation process. As the frontrunner among EU candidate countries, Montenegro will make its expertise and experience available to support Moldova in this early phase of accession.

The document recognizes European integration as a shared strategic objective and reaffirms both countries’ commitment to the values upon which the European Union is founded – democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights, and sustainable development.

The Memorandum provides for a broad range of activities, including cooperation in aligning national legislation with the EU acquis, public administration reform, institutional strengthening, the fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as joint projects under the Green Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It also envisages the organization of joint workshops, trainings, meetings of negotiation teams, and study visits, along with the establishment of mechanisms for joint planning and implementation of activities within the six negotiation clusters. In doing so, Montenegro and Moldova demonstrate their commitment to accelerating their path to full EU membership through mutual support and solidarity.

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