Montenegro is a leader among candidate countries for EU membership, said the Bulgarian Prime Minister
PODGORICA – Montenegro is currently the leader among all candidate countries for membership in the European Union, stated Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during his visit to the country. He noted that all negotiation chapters are open and negotiations are being conducted very intensively.
The topic was among the highlights in the discussions of the Bulgarian Prime Minister with the Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajic and with President Jakov Milatovic.
The ambitious program of the Montenegrin government is to join the EU by 2028, with all negotiation chapters completed by the end of next year. This requires great efforts, noted Prime Minister Zhelyazkov.
He recalled that since the declaration of independence of Montenegro, Bulgaria has been a constant supporter of the country’s European perspective. Rosen Zhelyazkov wished for Montenegro to become the 28th member of the EU and to honorably replace the United Kingdom with its contribution to the Union.
Montenegro received candidate status for EU membership in 2010, and accession negotiations began in 2012.
We are looking in one direction both geopolitically, as well as in European and regional aspects. Montenegro meets all the requirements of the negotiation chapters and confidently moves in the direction of its own merits, added Rosen Zhelyazkov.
We have always supported countries in the enlargement process that demonstrate that the principle of own merits is the working principle – much more effective for the development of society than political decisions. Montenegro is an example in this regard, and we will be pleased for it to be part of the EU as soon as possible, because we share the same values, we have the same understanding of the challenges and their solutions, added Prime Minister Zhelyazkov.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadzhov and the Minister of Transport of Montenegro Maja Vukicevic signed a cooperation agreement in aviation. It was agreed to start joint actions to establish a direct air route between the two countries.
A joint expert working group has already been established for the preparation of the air route between Bulgaria and Montenegro, involving the transport ministries, aviation administrations, airport operators, as well as an airline from the Montenegrin side. (08.09.2025)
