Following the visit to Serbia, on the first day of his tour of Western Balkan capitals, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos visited Montenegro and met with his counterpart, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the country, Igor Lukšić.

In joint statements following their meeting, Venizelos stressed inter alia that:

•    Montenegro’s accession course is particularly effective and positive, wishing for this course to continue and to intensify during the six months of the Greek Presidency.
•    Many major steps have been taken. Constitutional amendments have been adopted and new legislation has been introduced on issues related to democratic institutions, rule of law, independence of the judiciary, and combatting of corruption and organized crime. But still other steps must be taken, in accordance with the European standards.
•    Strong political will exists in Montenegro, regarding the country’s European perspective, and there is the necessary resolve for all the necessary changes to be introduced.

Read below the joint statements by Lukšić and Venizelos.