Spajić with Várhelyi: We wanted to come to Brussels with results, the Government has the capacity to fulfill the European agenda

"Montenegro wants to be a desirable member of the European Union. The one who contributes at all levels", Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said at a meeting with the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, with whom he discussed the process of Montenegro's European integration today during a working visit to Brussels.

We wanted to come to Brussels with results that would confirm our commitment to European integration and our credibility as a committed and responsible future member state. Montenegro wants to be a desirable member of the European Union. One who contributes on all levels. We are certain that we have all the prerequisites for that to happen, said the Prime Minister.

European Commissioner for Enlargement, Oliver Várhelyi, expressed his satisfaction with relations with the 44^th Government of Montenegro and said that the decisions and results achieved in the first days of the mandate are the best recommendation for Montenegro to successfully continue the process of integration into the European Union.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić presented the Government's work plan for the coming year and pointed out his confidence that Montenegro will succeed in delivering results from the European agenda.

The Parliament's decision on the election of the missing judge of the Constitutional Court, as well as today's vote for the election of members of the Judicial Council, is proof that there is full institutional functionality and political stability in Montenegro.

Undoubtedly, there is a positive impulse from the Parliament that gives the reform processes a boost. This is confirmed by the effectiveness in making numerous decisions, such as the ratification of the Berlin Process agreement and the fact that 64 MPs voted for amendments to the Law on Census, and 58 voted for the election of a new Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro, said the Prime Minister.

The interlocutors agreed that the grant in the amount of EUR 112 million will be very important for the modernization of the railway and that the support of the European Union was also important for Montenegro's efforts to avoid the gray list of Moneyval. It is the best expression of partnership and trust between Montenegro and the European Union, it was said during the meeting.

The meeting was an opportunity to summarize the results achieved in the first months of the mandate and prepare for the continuation of joint activities in the process of Montenegro joining the European Union.

The Prime Minister handed the Commissioner a letter of notification confirming that Montenegro has fulfilled the criteria from the conditional positive opinion for the Smart Specialization Strategy and is ready for the final assessment of the European Commission.

We recall that Montenegro is the first country outside the European Union to adopt this strategy and establish a framework for its implementation in accordance with the Commission's recommendations, and that the Government of Montenegro sees it as a key strategic framework for the development of science and innovation for the purpose of the priority sectors of Montenegro's development.