Ivanović, Elgersma: Unequivocal support of the Netherlands for Montenegro’s European perspective

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović met with the non-resident Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Montenegro, based in Belgrade, H.E. Martijn Elgersma. During the meeting, they discussed the improvement of bilateral relations, Montenegro’s European perspective, as well as current security issues. The interlocutors assessed that Montenegro and the Netherlands maintain friendly relations, with mutual commitment to further strengthening them, particularly through intensifying political dialogue and exchanges of visits at a high level.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović expressed gratitude for the Netherlands’ support to Montenegro’s process of accession to the European Union, especially in the context of closing negotiation chapters, emphasizing that Montenegro remains firmly committed to implementing reforms and fulfilling obligations from the European agenda, with full alignment with the common foreign and security policy of the European Union.

Ambassador Elgersma praised Montenegro’s progress on its European path, highlighting the importance of establishing a working group for the preparation of Montenegro’s Accession Treaty as a significant step toward the final phase of the negotiation process and a confirmation of the country’s institutional maturity. On that occasion, he informed his interlocutor about the priorities of the new Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, emphasizing that special attention will be devoted to the European Union’s enlargement policy, with a focus on the countries of the Western Balkans, including Montenegro as a success story of European integration. He stressed that the Netherlands will unequivocally support Montenegro’s accession to the European Union, in line with achieved and measurable progress, while recalling the well-known Dutch principle that the accession process must be strict but fair. The Ambassador also announced the participation of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands at the upcoming EU–Western Balkans Summit, which will be held on 5 June in Tivat, emphasizing its importance for strengthening political dialogue and cooperation on the European continent.

In the continuation of the discussion, possibilities for enhancing cooperation in several areas were considered, including energy, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, with particular emphasis on strengthening economic cooperation and investments.

The meeting also addressed joint initiatives aimed at strengthening regional stability and the European perspective of the Western Balkans. It was concluded that there is significant room for further deepening cooperation, with mutual commitment to continuing intensive political dialogue in the coming period.