Statement by the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ervin Ibrahimović on the meeting of the 'Friends of the Western Balkans' group

We discussed the future of the European Union enlargement policy and the new accession treaty model, with a clear shared commitment that the enlargement process must remain based on individual merits and achieved reforms. It is particularly important that among participants there was broad understanding that negotiations must lead to full EU membership, based on equal rights and obligations. Safeguard clauses, if included in accession treaties, must be targeted, proportional, and time-limited, without undermining the equal rights and obligations of all future member states. For Montenegro, it is encouraging that more member states recognized our progress and emphasized that our accession process can serve as a model for future enlargement, respecting the specifics of each candidate country. We also discussed strengthening the European Union's strategic autonomy, especially in areas such as supply chain security, food quality, and better connectivity, which offers additional opportunities for intensified regional cooperation. Montenegro remains fully committed to reforms, and we are confident that the results we achieve will be the best recommendation for our full EU membership.