Ivanović welcomes European leaders: Montenegro welcomes Europe and, together with regional partners, gives new momentum to the European future of the Western Balkans

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović welcomed high-ranking European officials visiting Montenegro on the occasion of the EU–Western Balkans Summit, a gathering that has positioned Montenegro at the centre of the European political dialogue on the future of the Western Balkans and the European Union’s enlargement policy.

Ahead of the Summit, Ivanović welcomed Bart De Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia, Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, wishing them a warm welcome to Montenegro and thanking them for their support for the European future of the region.

The presence of Europe’s highest-ranking officials represents a strong confirmation of our country’s international standing and of the trust Montenegro has built as a credible partner of the European Union. At the same time, it is recognition of the results we are achieving on our European path and a clear indication that Montenegro is today one of the key interlocutors when it comes to the future of the enlargement policy, Ivanović stated.

He assessed that the Summit is taking place at a moment when the European Union recognises that the integration of the Western Balkans is not only a matter of meeting political criteria, but also a strategic interest of the European continent.

Today, Montenegro is not merely hosting an important international gathering. It stands as proof that the enlargement policy delivers results when there is political will, reform commitment, and a clear European vision. That is why it is particularly significant that the message on preserving the credibility of the enlargement process and accelerating the region’s European integration comes precisely from our country, Ivanović emphasised.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that hosting the EU–Western Balkans Summit further confirms Montenegro’s position as a country that actively contributes to European processes and regional cooperation, while also representing an important opportunity to promote the country’s strategic objectives in the final phase of negotiations with the European Union.

Our ambition remains clear – for Montenegro to become the next member state of the European Union, and for the success of our European path to serve as an encouragement to the entire region. The gathering of European and regional leaders in Montenegro demonstrates that the European future of the Western Balkans is attainable and that discussions about it are taking place precisely where the integration process has achieved its most visible progress, Ivanović concluded.