Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro’s EU Accession Treaty will be ready once the country fulfills the necessary requirements, said President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing that Montenegro is well on its way to closing at least five chapters by the end of the year.

During a press conference with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic in Tivat, she said that Montenegro is a frontrunner of the European integration process.

Von der Leyen stated that Montenegro has closed four chapters in the EU accession negotiations since her last visit, which, she said, is amazing.

“You are now on good track to close another at least five this year, and I know that you are determined to close all the chapters next year. An to become the twenty-eighth by ‘28. This is ambitious, but we like ambition. And we know that Montenegro can do it if it stays focused on the goal and united, and speak with one voice. It is important to keep seeking consensus across the whole political spectrum”, Von der Leyen said.

She said that the EU wants to see Montenegro as part of the European family, as well as the support coming from Montenegro’s immediate neighbors, Slovenia and Croatia, is particularly high.

“I wish you every success on your path forward to be a member of the EU. You can count on me to be by Montenegro’s side on every step of the path. Together we will reunite Europe”, Von der Leyen said.

When asked by the journalist when the drafting of Montenegro’s EU Accession Agreement can be expected to begin, von der Leyen said that it is the responsibility of the member states, and that the Commission will recommend action once the technical part of the work is completed.

“What is very good is that you have the ambition to have all chapters closed by the end of next year. I cannot speak for the [European] Council and the member states, but you can rely on the fact that the accession treaty will be ready when you are ready”, von der Leyen stressed.

Regarding the EC’s stance on “the Special State Prosecutor’s Office’s current attacks on the freedom of critical media”, von der Leyen said that the Commission never comments on ongoing criminal investigations, neither in member states nor in candidate countries.

“Media freedom is a cornerstone of the rule of law and a basic principle of the EU, and therefore one of our very precious values ​​that we protect and defend. That has to be very clear. We are following all developments in the Western Balkans and other candidate countries when media freedom is concerned”, Von der Leyen added.

When asked by journalists about the the problem with the Constitutional Court, von der Leyen emphasized that the election of all Constitutional Court judges will make Montenegro’s democracy stronger and urged Montenegro to implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

Spajic called on MPs to elect Constitutional Court judges as soon as possible, stating that the European path should come first for all political actors, above any political and other interests.

When asked what he expects from the EC’s upcoming report, Spajic replied that it would provide a realistic overview of the situation.

“It will definitely reflect the great results that have been achieved, but it will also highlight some challenges, that is, the tasks that we need to fulfill. We have a lot of work to do, but we are ready for it”, said Spajic.

When asked whether Montenegro will close five chapters this year and whether it could complete the job by the end of next year if it fails to do so, Spajic said that the exact timing is not crucial.

“We are working on all 26 chapters in order to close them as soon as possible. When exactly they will be closed is less important, what matters is that all of them will be closed by December next year”, Spajic said.