Tivat, (MINA) – Montenegro has achieved impressive results on its European path, said President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, adding that the EU enlargement process has gained momentum, and that now it should be turned into movement, while the movement should be turned into membership.

 

“Montenegro is impressive, amazing. The way they are engaged, the way they are reforming and doing all the steps necessary to move forward. My recommendation is: stay focused, stay on track, because you are very close to the finish line and we are supporting as much as possible”, Von der Leyen said.

 

 

She told the press in Tivat, at the beginning of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, that the leaders of the EU and the region will discuss two topics – the Growth Plan and the enlargement process.

 

“The growth plan is working well. It has the principle that the European Union opens sectors of the Single Market, and for that the candidate country has to do reforms, to have a level playing field, but with the reforms also come investments”, stated Von der Leyen.

 

She said another topic they will discuss is enlargement, adding that it should be merit- based, which does not mean that it should be slow.

 

“We have to make the enlargement process faster and more credible. In other words, if a candidate country delivers on reforms it has to move forward in closing and opening chapters and clusters on its path forward the EU”, said Von der Leyen, adding that the enlargement process also needs to be more visible. 

 

President of the European Parliament (EP) Roberta Metsola said that EU enlargement is a strategic choice that benefits everyone.

 

“The momentum is here, we have to move from words to action”, said Metsola. 

 

 

 

 

 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that Spain supports EU enlargement, adding that the EU is incomplete without the countries of the Western Balkans, as well as that Montenegro is a frontrunner of the enlargement process and is doing its best to implement the necessary reforms.

 

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told reporters that the last EU enlargement took place 13 years ago and that now there is a certain political will for the new round of enlargement.

 

“It is necessary for the aspiring members to meet the criteria and a favorable absorption climate for new EU members should be created”, Plenkovic said.

 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the EU should stick to the merit-based enlargement process.

 

“Like we are all today around one table, we should always be around the table, but everyone with its own status, until we become full members”, said Rama.