Montenegro making rapid EU integration progress: Tusk

Montenegro is making rapid progress in its EU integration process, realizes its obligations successfully and represents an example for countries of the Western Balkans, President of the European Council Donald Tusk told Prime Minister of Montenegro Dusko Markovic during their meeting Tuesday in Podgorica.

Tusk arrived in Podgorica this afternoon within his tour of the Western Balkans. He discussed with Markovic the progress of Montenegro in the process of the European integration, in the light of the latest report of the European Commission.

"Montenegro under your leadership in the integration process became a leader. There is no doubt that you are in a good negotiation position and that you represent a positive example. Your work and your achievements are not important only for Montenegro but also for the EU, because it shows that in a complex situation and in a complicated region, the progress is possible," Tusk said, according to a government press release.

Markovic told Tusk that Montenegro is aware of challenges and those segments within the EU integration where "more efficiency and effort is required". He praised the recent positive report of the European Commission as a useful document for the further improvement and acceleration of the negotiation process.

He said that Montenegro sees the EU's determination to deal with the Western Balkans as a major opportunity for the whole region, especially at the EU-Western Balkans summit to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria on May 17.

"After 15 years, once again we will be together with EU leaders. The agenda of the summit has been determined realistically and objectively. Region needs to use this opportunity," he added.