Tsahkna: Montenegro's membership would strengthen the European Union

TALLINN - Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna met with Montenegrin Minister for European Affairs Maida Gorčević in Tallinn on Monday; the meeting focused on Montenegro's accession to the European Union and Estonia's support for making this happen as soon as possible. Also discussed were the situation in the Western Balkans, support for Ukraine, and increasing pressure on Russia.

According to Tsahkna, Montenegro has made significant progress in recent years and has reached a decisive stage in its EU accession. "Montenegro has shown that consistent reforms yield results. Now, we must move forward quickly with the preparation of the accession treaty. Montenegro's success sends a clear message to other candidate countries: the work done leads to membership," Tsahkna said.

He added that Estonia is ready to support Montenegro on this path and share its practical experiences from its own accession to the European Union.

The ministers also discussed in more detail the developments in the Western Balkans and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Tsahkna praised Montenegro for its consistent support for Ukraine. "A just and lasting peace is not born from concessions to the aggressor. As long as Russia continues the war, we must give Ukraine everything it needs to defend itself and make continuing the war increasingly expensive for Russia," he said.

The ministers also spoke about the bilateral relations between Estonia and Montenegro. According to Tsahkna, cooperation between the countries has been steadily intensifying and received a significant boost this year from the visit of the President of Montenegro to Estonia.