A delegation of the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly, led by its chair Dzhema Grozdanova, is visiting Montenegro at the invitation of the Foreign Policy and Emigration Committee Chair of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Nikolić. The Bulgarian delegation was received by President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović.

“Bulgaria will continue to actively support the Western Balkan countries and Montenegro in particular on its way to become a full member of the EU. On the parliamentary level, this has been already confirmed by the Statement of the heads of delegations from 17 February 2018, adopted by a consensus by the national parliaments at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy held in Sofia”, emphasised Dzhema Grozdanova. The participants at the meeting with President Vujanović agreed that the European prospect for the Western Balkans was of primary importance for the region, taking into account the individual progress of each country, and that it was very important for Montenegro and the whole region that as part of the presidency of the Council of the EU, Bulgaria managed to push for the process of European integration for the Western Balkan countries.

Earlier today the Bulgarian MPs had meetings with President of the Montenegrin Parliament Ivan Brajović, the Foreign Affairs and Emigration Committee, the European Integration Committee, the Security and Defence Committee and the parliamentary Friendship Group.

The MPs discussed the ambition of Montenegro to open all negotiation chapters by the end of the presidency of the Council of the EU of the trio Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria and start the process of closing them by the end of the mandate of the European Commission in 2019. The Montenegrin parliamentarians thanked the Bulgarian Parliament for its consistent support for the Euro-Atlantic integration of their country.

“The reforms to establish the rule of law and good neighbourly relations between the Western Balkan countries will contribute to the sustainability, security and prosperity of the European continent. Montenegro is one of the main contributors to the regional and international security”, said Chair of the Foreign Policy Committee of the National Assembly Dzhema Grozdanova. In the process of development of bilateral relations, Bulgaria is ready to share its experience in the negotiation process between Montenegro and the EU, and provide parliamentary expertise, she emphasised.

Aspects of energy, transport and digital connectivity were discussed in the area of regional cooperation. With regard to the bilateral relations, the MPs expressed their satisfaction with the strengthened relations and political dialogue between Bulgaria and Montenegro at all levels.

Members of the Bulgarian delegation are MPs Polina Hristova, Dimitar Glavchev and Peter Vitanov.