April 30, 2019 - After arriving in Berlin, at the invitation of German Chancellor and French President, President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, met with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.

Mrs Mogherini was very glad to meet president Đukanović, in the lead-up to tonight’s meeting, taking into account President’s knowledge of the subject and the rating he has with regional partners.

President Đukanović thanked Mrs Mogherini for the continuous dedication to the European perspective of WB and expressed hope that the encounter in Berlin will be a great stimulus for the efforts put in keeping this perspective open.

President Đukanović and Mrs Mogherini talked about the situation in the region and stressed the importance of regional cooperation and good relations with the neighbors.

Text from CdM on April 29, 2019, read the full text on CdM

28 April 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović will travel to Berlin tomorrow, where at the joint invitation from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, he will attend a high-level meeting on the Western Balkans.

The political situation in the region and progress in normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo will be discussed at the meeting.

Besides the President of Montenegro, the heads of state or government of the Western Balkans, the prime ministers of Croatia and Slovenia and senior EU officials, are invited.

Milo Đukanović recently hosted Christian-Democratic Union Member of Bundestag Christian Schmidt. The President of Montenegro expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with the German Bundestag member, following a recent official visit to Berlin, thanking FR Germany for its dedication to Montenegro.

On this occasion, Đukanović reminded of the importance of continuation of the European path for the stability of the region, insisting on further intensifying mutual co-operation, determination to accelerate reform and joint commitment to resolving open issues at the WB. In this context, he welcomed the upcoming meeting in Berlin at the initiative of German Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron, because, he said, this region is part of the European house and European responsibility.

German Bundestag member Christian Schmidt thanked the President for recognition that his recent visit to Berlin was significant from a political point of view. He pointed to the continuity of German support for Montenegro since the renewal of independence and the European perspective of Montenegro and region. And the upcoming event in Berlin should be seen in the context of support and interest of Germany and France for the further destiny of the Balkans, said Schmidt

28 April 2019 - Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović said that he expects a positive report by the European Commission on the progress of Montenegro towards the EU and that the country will definitely be the next EU member.

"The preliminary document that was created in November in the area of ​​the rule of law was very encouraging for us. If we get a positive report, especially on the implementation of the provisional benchmarks for Chapters 23 and 24, that would be a significant moment for our further path towards the EU, even more significant than the question whether we will open the last negotiating chapter in the first or the second semester," Darmanović said in an interview with the TVCG.

On this occasion, Darmanović also said that there is no dispute that Montenegro is an absolute leader in the region when it comes to European integration. He added that Montenegro would open the last negotiating chapter this year, and reminded of the previous February report of the EU on the Western Balkans pointing out that those who achieve better results will move faster and that by 2025, EU enlargement might occur.

"It must be understood that the policy of enlargement is not a one-way but a two-way process, and we cannot become an EU member just by our effort. Of course, the primary responsibility is for us to show that our society is closer to the European legal system," Darmanović pointed out.

Speaking about the effects of membership in NATO, the Minister said that joining the Alliance was the greatest achievement of Montenegro's foreign policy after the restoration of independence, because Montenegro, for the first time in its history, became an institutional part of the Western world and part of the group of countries that have the values ​​of modern and civilized and democratic world, most of whom were defenders of freedom and during the Cold War.

He emphasized that Montenegro has very good relations with all the friends and partners from the region: "The policy of good neighbourly relations, in addition to NATO membership and European agenda, is one of the three pillars of Montenegrin foreign policy”. The Head of Montenegrin diplomacy also assessed that the country is continuously trying to maintain this kind of approach even when its friends have different views and interests.

26 April 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković hosted Christian Democratic Union member in the Bundestag, Christian Schmidt. The Prime Minister, recalling the dialogue at the highest level between the two countries following last year's official talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, expressed satisfaction with the fact that the realization of the reached agreement is in the final stage.

The agreement foresees that Germany sends expert assistance to Montenegro to advance the rule of law. In this context, PM Marković emphasised Montenegro's interest in partnership with Germany in further overcoming the challenges in our European integration process.

"Our interest and our wish are to have a dialogue with Germany on key development issues, as well as on a bilateral level. We do not need this to strengthen our position, but we need German know-how and experience to continue progressive reforms and improve our system even faster and better," the Prime Minister stressed.

Prime Minister Duško Marković informed Mr. Schmidt about the Government's economic and political results, the results of our European integration, as well as strategic priorities in the coming period.

Bundestag Member Schmidt congratulated the Prime Minister on Montenegro's membership in NATO and expressed full support for the reforms that our country implements and our European integration, concluding that the goal is Montenegro's membership in the European Union.

Both sides agreed on the possibilities for stronger German investments in Montenegro.

President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović recently also hosted Christian-Democratic Union Member of Bundestag Christian Schmidt. During this occasion, the President of Montenegro expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with the German Bundestag member, following a recent official visit to Berlin, thanking FR Germany for its dedication to Montenegro.

April 27, 2019 - The new civic protest in the organization of the ODUPRISE movement is most likely to be held on Tuesday, May 7, after which a meeting of opposition leaders will take place. For now, it is uncertain whether the meeting will be held without representatives of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), whose delegates participated in the replacement of Kotor's mayor Vladimir Jokic.

25 April 2019 - During the term of office of this Government, more than 15,000 new jobs have been created. As the Prime Minister, I am proud of this result, Prime Minister Duško Marković said at the Prime Minister's Questions session, which took place in the Parliament of Montenegro.

Answering a question about what the Government has done to improve the rights and quality of life of workers, Prime Minister Marković said that the Government had initiated an increase in the minimum wage by 15%, which will have a direct impact on about 35,000 employees.

The Prime Minister announced that the rate of income tax on earnings of natural persons will be reduced from 11% to 9%, adding that in public administration bodies the working hours changed from 7:00 to 15:00, which is more favourable for employees, especially for mothers.

"In addition to these measures, the Government continuously helps to solve the housing issues of employees. Since 2016, 318 employees in the education sector, 717 persons from the Police and 317 health workers have solved their housing issues under favourable conditions. Furthermore, the Housing Cooperative Healthcare, founded by two trade unions and the Ministry of Health, will allocate around 500,000 euros to its employees in 2019. I also recall the 1000+ Project, which has been present for a decade, and which enabled 1,162 family households to resolve their housing issues, of which 735 are from the public sector, and 427 from other social categories," Prime Minister Duško Marković pointed out.

23 April 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović hosted Christian-Democratic Union Member of Bundestag Christian Schmidt. The President of Montenegro expressed his satisfaction with the opportunity to meet with the German Bundestag member, following a recent official visit to Berlin, thanking FR Germany for its dedication to Montenegro.

He also pointed out the strong support for the Western Balkans' European perspective and significant involvement of the Bundestag in such German policy as well as close co-operation between the two states, as witnessed by a dynamic dialogue over the past few months.

"It is also good for our country and for the region that Germany is not slowing down in its efforts, despite the current opportunities on the European and global scene, to Europeanize the region," the President said.

Đukanović reminded of the importance of continuation of the European path for the stability of the region, insisting on further intensifying mutual co-operation, determination to accelerate reform and joint commitment to resolving open issues at the WB. In this context, he welcomed the upcoming meeting in Berlin at the initiative of German Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron, because, he said, this region is part of the European house and European responsibility.

That is why he said that the European perspective of the Western Balkans should be made more reachable and uncompromising fulfillment of conditions for EU accession while simultaneously implementing clear actions that the region will bring to Europe and connect infrastructurally with it. 

German Bundestag member Christian Schmidt thanked the President for recognition that his recent visit to Berlin was very important from a political point of view. He pointed to the continuity of German support for Montenegro since the renewal of independence and the European perspective of Montenegro and region. And the upcoming event in Berlin should be seen in the context of support and interest of Germany and France for the further destiny of the Balkans, said Schmidt

He welcomed Montenegro's attitude towards reform and the promotion of the rule of law, the fight against organized crime and corruption, and stressed the importance of cooperation in this context.

The interlocutors agreed that both the political and the expert cooperation of the two states is at a high level, especially in the field of defense and internal affairs. Both sides expressed their interest in the stronger presence of German investors.

During the meeting, there was talk about current events in the region, in the light of the upcoming meeting in Berlin on April 29.

23 April 2019 - Minister of Defence Predrag Bošković paid an official visit to the Republic of Latvia. During the meeting with Latvian counterpart Artis Pabriks in Riga, Bošković expressed Montenegro's readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Latvia, as a reliable ally in contributing to the overall strengthening of collective defence.

"By sending members of the Armed Forces of Montenegro to the enhanced Forward Presence in the East - eFP, we have demonstrated our commitment to NATO's deterrence and defence policy, as well as the willingness to contribute to designing stability within and outside the borders of the NATO by participating in international missions and operations", Bošković said.

He informed his Latvian counterpart about Montenegro's plans for further contribution to the eFP mission, stressing that Montenegro, with its participation in this mission, demonstrates its determination to continuously contribute to the overall efforts of the Alliance in strengthening the security of its citizens and territory. Minister Bošković stressed that the sending of the Scout Division of the Armed Forces of Montenegro to the eFP mission represents a strong platform for defining joint bilateral activities and projects.

Minister Pabriks stressed the strong support of the Republic of Latvia for strengthening the European and Euro-Atlantic perspective of the Western Balkans, affirming the impact of Montenegro's full membership in NATO on the stability of the Western Balkan region. Pabriks said that Montenegro had proved itself as a reliable and credible ally, stressing that Montenegro's contribution to the eFP mission is yet another indicator of its commitment to strengthening global peace and stability and trust among the armed forces of allied countries.

Bošković also met with State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Defence Janis Garisson. The two officials visited the Adaži base, the headquarters of the Multinational Battle Group in Latvia, within which an infantry reconnaissance division of the Armed Forced of Montenegro was engaged in December 2018.

In a conversation with Montenegrin soldiers, Bošković expressed satisfaction with the positive ratings of senior military representatives on their professional attitude towards assigned tasks. He expressed the expectation that they will continue to represent Montenegro decently by a responsible approach to the obligations and patriotic attitude towards their country. Bošković said that participation of Montenegro in this mission is another opportunity for strengthening the capacity of the Armed Forces of Montenegro and inter-ally trust.