Ivanović in Vienna: European integration and economic opportunities in focus

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović, during his working visit to Vienna, met with Christoph Matznetter, Vice-President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Petra Bayr, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian Parliament and President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as Andreas Schieder, Head of the Delegation of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPÖ), member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), and European Parliament rapporteur for Albania and Iceland.

During all meetings, the discussions focused on the European Union enlargement policy as a process that needs to be brought to completion, bilateral cooperation between Montenegro and Austria, with particular emphasis on political and expert support for Montenegro’s EU integration, strengthening economic cooperation, and the broader geopolitical context. It was emphasised that Austria provides clear and unequivocal support both to the enlargement policy and to Montenegro as the leading candidate in the accession process.

In the context of economic cooperation, the need for stronger engagement of companies from EU Member States was highlighted, particularly through participation in tenders and investment in key development sectors in Montenegro. Ivanović stressed the importance of further encouraging European investors, taking into account the current geopolitical circumstances. During his meeting with Vice-President Matznetter, it was agreed that a stronger presence of the Austrian Economic Chamber in Montenegro would further boost networking between Montenegrin and Austrian companies.

The discussions also covered the broader geopolitical context, with the assessment that a stronger presence of the European Union in the Western Balkans is of particular importance for maintaining stability and further strengthening the European perspective of the region. Ivanović also referred to the high level of public support for EU integration in Montenegro as an important pillar of the process, which needs to be reinforced through tangible results and visible progress. At the same time, the need for further informing the Austrian public about the importance of enlargement and the benefits of Montenegro’s EU accession was highlighted.

In this context, Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović gave an interview to the Austrian daily Die Presse, presenting to the Austrian public key topics related to Montenegro’s progress as the frontrunner in the EU accession process, reform priorities, negotiation dynamics, and expectations for the continuation of European integration.

The working visit to Austria confirmed the strong and substantive partnership between the two countries, based on political support for Montenegro’s European path, as well as growing interest in deepening economic cooperation. Through intensive dialogue with political and business interlocutors, additional opportunities were opened for strengthening investment presence and enhancing overall bilateral relations, with a shared assessment that Montenegro remains a reliable and credible partner in the European and regional context.