Montenegro hopes to accede to bloc during Latvian Presidency of EU Council - Braze

RIGA - Montenegro hopes to accede to the bloc during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), scheduled in 2028, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity) said at a news conference following a meeting with the Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Filip Ivanovic.

The Latvian foreign minister said that Montenegro is an important ally of Latvia in NATO, with Montenegrin soldiers serving in the NATO Multinational Brigade in Adazi. In Braze's words, her meeting with Ivanovic focused on issues concerning security, as well as the international agenda, including the situation in the Middle East.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to Montenegro's EU accession process and EU-integration. Braze noted that Montenegro's accession negotiations are going successfully and the country is committed to concluding the negotiations as soon as possible, possibly during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

"Latvia supports a criteria-based EU enlargement. This also applies to the implementation of the EU's foreign and security policy, where Montenegro is currently 100 percent compliant. Montenegro has rightly closed many chapters of the accession negotiations," said the Latvian foreign minister.

Montenegro's deputy prime minister for foreign and European affairs agreed that his country's integration into the EU was the main topic of the meeting. He thanked Latvia for support provided both on the political and expert level, helping Montenegro on its path to EU membership.

Ivanovic said that there had been an exchange of views on strengthening cooperation. He stressed the importance of cooperation between Latvia and Montenegro in the context of NATO, taking into account the current security challenges on the European continent.

Ivanovic affirmed that Montenegro, together with Latvia and other allies, is committed to providing a strong and united response to all regional and global security challenges.

He noted that the ministers had discussed the role of the Montenegrin and Latvian armed forces in NATO missions, as well as experience that could contribute to strengthening the defense capabilities of both countries. The ministers also discussed economic cooperation and business opportunities.

According to Ivanovic, although bilateral investment and trade exchange exists and is developing, there is considerable potential for further bringing together chambers of commerce, business communities, which would allow Latvian and Montenegrin entrepreneurs to become better acquainted with the markets of both countries.