Regional Cooperation Is Key to EU Membership

Montenegro’s European future is closely linked to the stability, development and progress of the entire Western Balkans, said Biljana Papović, State Secretary at the Ministry of European Affairs, speaking about EU integration and Montenegro’s path at the eighth Digital Summit of the Western Balkans. She stressed that the country must align with European policies, strengthen the rule of law and public administration, and build closer economic and institutional ties with EU member states. If Montenegro is to join the wider European market, it needs a compatible system, better information exchange and more effective cooperation between institutions. Regional cooperation should help prepare the country for EU membership, not serve as a substitute for it, while enabling gradual integration into the single market and allowing economies and citizens to benefit from integration sooner.