Ibrahimović – Fern: Malta strongly supports Montenegro on its European path – friendship and cooperation between the two countries for new value in Europe

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Ervin Ibrahimović, met today in Podgorica with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Malta, Chris Fern. He congratulated him on assuming office and welcomed him to Montenegro. Ibrahimović thanked Malta for its continuous and strong support for Montenegro's European path and enlargement policy based on individual results and achieved reforms, emphasizing that Montenegro is today the most advanced candidate for EU membership. He highlighted that EU membership for Montenegro is not just about closing negotiation chapters but also about readiness to contribute to the Union as a new member. 'We want to join the EU as a country that has implemented the necessary reforms, but also as a country that brings new value, experience, and energy to the European project,' Ibrahimović stated. He also informed Minister Fern about Montenegro's upcoming presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, as well as the Berlin Process and the Western Balkans Fund, considering these responsibilities an additional opportunity for Montenegro to contribute to strengthening European and multilateral cooperation. The interlocutors confirmed their readiness to continue intensive political dialogue and to concretize cooperation in areas of mutual interest, noting that the friendly relations between Montenegro and Malta have significant potential for further deepening.